Ageing well: Housing options and alternative modes of living for later life – Co-housing
Published:
This podcast explores co-housing as an alternative housing option in later life, considering how it can reduce loneliness and foster social connectedness, independence and community.
Mary Robson, Research and Development Officer at Research in Practice speaks to Hedi and Hilary from Older Women’s Co-housing (OWCH). They talk about the experience of living as part of a co-housing community at New Ground, a new purpose built block of 25 self-contained flats in North London.
This conversation offers unique insight into their experience of and journey to living in specialist housing, highlighting the untapped potential and opportunities of more innovative and under-utilised models of housing. The podcast accompanies chapter one of the Ageing Well: Evidence Review which provides an overview of the current and emerging issues in relation to housing, modes of living and care for a new and diversifying generation of older adults.
Talking points
This podcast looks at:
- The journey and development of New Ground co-housing.
- Creating and building a co-housing community.
- Day to day life at New Ground co-housing.
- Reducing loneliness and fostering social connectedness.
- Keeping safe during COVID-19.
- Co-housing, independence and self-sufficiency in later life.
Resources mentioned in this podcast
- Ageing Well: Evidence Review - Introduction
- Ageing Well: Housing options and alternative modes of living in later life (chapter one)
Reflective questions
Here are reflective questions to stimulate conversation and support practice:
- What alternative housing options are there in your local area?
- What are the main benefits of co-housing?
- Do you explore alternative housing options with the older people you work with?
- What are the key messages from the podcast and how could these support you to think differently about housing options in later life?
Professional Standards
PQS:KSS - Effective assessment and outcome based support planning | Person-centred practice | Direct work with individuals and families | Developing confident and capable social workers
CQC - Effective
PCF - Knowledge
Ageing Well: Housing options and alternative modes of living in later life - Home sharing
This podcast provides a unique insight into the experience of and journey to living as home sharers, highlighting the untapped potential and opportunities of more innovative and under-utilised models of housing.
Homeshare – the intergenerational housing model
The impact of loneliness on health and wellbeing across the generations is well documented. Homeshare brings together older people with a spare room with people who are happy to chat and lend a hand around the house in return for affordable, sociable accommodation.
Ageing well – building a system to meet the needs of the next generation of older adults
The older population is increasing at an unprecedented pace and is likely to accelerate in the coming decade, impacting people of all ages. A new Evidence Review aims to mobilise people to build an adult social care system that is better equipped to meet the needs of the next generation of older adults.
Ageing well: Evidence Review
Explore some of the most significant issues facing the adult social care sector as it adapts to shifts in societal, cultural, and technological norms, and the impact these have for the care and support needs of a ‘new’ generation of older people.
Ageing well – Housing options and alternative modes of living for later life: Evidence Review (chapter one)
Focus on future housing options and solutions. This chapter looks at current and emerging issues in relation to housing, modes of living and care for a new and diversifying generation of older adults and discusses recent developments in the domain of housing and accommodation.
Ageing well – Intimacy, sex and relationships in later life: Evidence Review (chapter two)
Explore the role of adult social care in supporting and enabling relationships among older adults in receipt of services, as well as the implications for practice. This Evidence Review chapter focuses on sex, relationships and intimacy as people grow older.
Ageing well – Alcohol and other drugs use in later life: Evidence Review (chapter three)
This Evidence Review explores some of the most significant issues facing the adult social care sector as it adapts to shifts in societal, cultural, and technological norms, and the impact these have for the care and support needs of a ‘new’ generation of older people. Chapter three discusses alcohol and other drugs use in later life.