Finding Community in Elder Cohousing: Before and During COVID-19

Abstract

Cohousing is designed to promote mutual support. Members of 12 senior cohousing communities participated in an online nationwide survey, which included loneliness, social isolation, and satisfaction, as well as questions about experiences during the pandemic. The white and well-educated sample (n = 108) had a mean age of 72.52 (range = 55–94). About 12% were at risk of isolation; 19% were lonely. During COVID-19, participants took comfort from knowing others were near; 65% interacted with people every day. The majority reported mutual support was better here than where they lived previously. Almost all felt they were better off living in cohousing during this time.

Keywords:

• Evaluation
• living arrangements
• loneliness

Ethical approval

University of North Carolina Wilmington Institutional Review Board (Approval Number: #21-0071).