So, you don’t like assisted living communities and dread the thought of going to a rest home, but you know you are tired of living alone and see a time in your future when you might need a little more help. What are you going to do?
There are so many alternative ways to live these days. You can thank those hippies and baby boomers for thinking outside the box. New communities are springing up each year and they’re not the retirement homes of yesteryear!
Intergenerational Living
Remember reading about the communes of the 60s and 70s? Well, the new communal living communities are far from those. These are innovative communities where the old and young live together. Forward thinking people have gotten together and planned the communities that they want. Some have private homes with a communal house for cooking and recreation. Some also include a group home set-up for those who need a little more support. It’s all up to the owner/creators of these unique communities and its catching on across this country of ours.
The AARP website writes about such communities.
Some have shared gardens and grow their own vegetables. Some rent an apartment to a nurse in exchange for care. Some have child care venues where elders and youngsters enjoy one another on a daily basis. Homes are built to the owners’ preferences so having their families over is not a problem.
Co-Housing with Friends or Potential Friends
This group of friends is planning their own style of community. They want to live downtown where they can walk to any place they might want to go. They want to build homes that are green in nature yet have innovative technology built right in. They like each other and prefer to live with people they know and enjoy. You can read about their journey and follow along on Facebook.
Dr. Bill & His Green House Project
Dr. William Thomas believes elders should remain in charge of their lives and live with purpose. His housing “pods” offer co-housing to older people who share in the work — the cooking and chores. Some of these group homes have outside help to deal with extra-care issues. He believes that most generations don’t want to be waited on, but prefer to contribute to everyday life. Some just need a little more care and services such as transportation and help with harder tasks.
Granny Flats & Tiny Houses
Many people approaching their golden years are looking for affordable housing and the ability to travel when and where they want to go. The latest housing craze is the Tiny House Movement. They absolutely do not look like a mobile home but just a tiny home on wheels. Young and old alike are trying this alternative lifestyle by building them to fit the way they want to live.
These homes are perfect for older people who might want to “park” next to a family member while still being able to actually take them to a park. These homes are not for everyone. Some are as small as 200 square feet. But the price is right and the taxes are non-existent in most states. If you’re not happy with your surroundings you just hook up and move on.
You can watch people have their own tiny houses built on the FYI channel.
You can see that planning how you want to live and where that might be is really up to you. Don’t settle for something you don’t want. Dream big and create your own style of community!
