Seniors Building Houses for Roommate Living
Back in 2010, we first wrote about senior women moving in together, in part to save money. Today, the trend continues, says one housing expert. And people are even building homes to accommodate it.
In an interview for the housing-industry magazine Builder, Henry Cisneros, former HUD secretary and co-editor of Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America, reports:
My brother is an architect in Houston, and it’s amazing to me the number of groupings of elderly people who are coming to him and asking him to design for two and three people. And they want very creative designs of bedrooms so there’s not only separate space and privacy, but also common space.
BUILDER: This isn’t just families, is it?
HC: No, this is friends. This is widows. This is three or four women who have pooled their money and figured out what they can afford together. It’s not a flash in the pan. It’s a real thing.
BUILDER: Is this the new commune?
HC: (Laughs) I think this is “Girls Gone Wild,” only they’re in their 80s!
If you find this senior-roommates option intriguing, check out these previous OurParents posts and articles for some tips on what to think about:
- Home Sharing for Seniors: How to Choose a Roommate
- Home Sharing for Seniors: First-Person Tips for Choosing, Living With Roommates
- Two Homes in One: Builder Creates Multigenerational Houses
- Follow-Up: Senior Women Living Together to Save Money
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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.
