Cohousing: a promising solution for aging in place

The aging population in many developed nations has given rise to alternative housing options that cater to the specific needs of older adults who wish to age in place. However, the current housing choices for this demographic often fall short of meeting their requirements. Additionally, many older adults want to actively participate in the development and implementation of housing designed specifically for them. Cohousing emerges as a promising solution to address these concerns.

Cohousing entails a deliberate community design that combines the advantages of private residences with shared amenities and a supportive village-style environment. The residents actively engage in the planning, management, and ownership of the community through democratic decision-making processes.

Research indicates that living in a cohousing community yields numerous positive outcomes for older adults, particularly in terms of social determinants of health. Cohousing has been found to enhance overall well-being, improve food security, foster social participation and support, and potentially reduce the need for expensive institutional care.

Moreover, cohousing holds particular importance for older women, as evidence from Canada suggests that women make up a significant proportion of cohousing residents. 

Despite the growing interest in this housing alternative among researchers, policymakers, and older adults themselves, and the increasing evidence supporting its benefits in later life, there remains a lack of studies specifically focusing on cohousing communities among older adults. This research gap persists even in countries where cohousing is well-established as a housing option.

To address this knowledge gap, a scoping review is currently underway which aims to assess the extent and diversity of global literature on cohousing communities and the social determinants of health in older adults. Its objective is to identify and categorise key evidence in this area and highlight areas where further research is needed. 

By documenting the existing knowledge worldwide, the scoping review will serve as a foundation for identifying which social determinants of health have been studied in relation to living in cohousing communities during later life.

This type of knowledge is crucial for informing policymakers and stakeholders in countries with rapidly aging populations about the potential impact of cohousing communities compared to other community-based housing options that are more widely known and thoroughly researched for older adults.

The scoping review protocol is published in the June 2023 issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis

Cohousing communities and social determinants of health in later life: a scoping review protocol

Bigonnesse, Catherine; Weeks, Lori; Puplampu, Vivian; Paris, Mario; Dupuis-Blanchard, Suzanne; McInnis-Perry, Gloria J.; Haché-Chiasson, Allison

JBI Evidence Synthesis 21(6):p 1337-1343, June 2023. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-22-00068