Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Senior cohousing / Fardknappen [ was: Conference report wanted

[Forbes Jan (jan.forbes]

Fred/Christine

Yes I'm here but I'm not sure how relevant my study on "age-integrated
cohousing for older people would be for Christine.  The report that I
submitted to meet the requirements of the Churchill Fellowship is at
churchilltrust.com.au under Fellows Reports/Social Welfare. I have not
publicised it widely as it was written quickly off the top of my head,
however even when such reports are available few people read them so what
the heck, even though I'm told by those who've read it that it reads well
and is interesting.  

I'm working on a more careful but briefer report for a presentation at the
Association of Qualitative Research national conference middle of next
month.  I was also hoping and had suggested earlier, but had no response,
that "Communities" or the "Cohousing" journal might be interested in
publishing some articles from me.  

I have a lot more information than what is in the report where I tended to
play down the positive side through fear of showing "bias".  I have learned
more about qualitative approaches since then.  My experiences of what life
is like for older people living in age-integrated cohousing were
overwhelmingly positive. I strongly believe but can't prove conclusively
that age-integrated cohousing strongly contributes to ageing well, along the
lines of George Vaillant's recent book - because it helps people to be more
open towards others and it increases opportunities for giving to the next
generation.  I am sure I am not alone in this belief amongst co-housers.

It is my belief, based on the residents/researchers/experts/policy makers I
spoke with in DK that the growth in "seniors only" andelsboliger is
primarily to do with acquiring an appropriate standard of affordable housing
rather than a motivation to "live together" with others.  And I believe that
the slowing of growth in other areas of cohousing is not to do with the
death of an unrealistic ideal from the student revolution, but primarily to
do with affordability, possibly also a little to do with the conservative
backlash from 1968. In Denmark they call baby boomers the 68ers.  The 68ers
could well want a different form of seniors cohousing to what is currently
being built.

I'm very interested to hear more about what was discussed at the conference
too.

Jan
Hobart, Tasmania

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred H Olson [mailto:fholson [at] cohousing.org]
Sent: Thursday, 26 June 2003 2:53 AM
To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
Subject: [C-L]_Senior cohousing / Fardknappen [ was: Conference report
wanted



I decided to reply and quote most of Christine's message with a subject
line to reflect that topic.  

On Wed, 25 Jun 2003, Christine Johnson wrote:
> 
> Sure wish my husband and I could have made  
> it [to the conference].  In particular, we are 
> interested in "senior co-housing."  If anyone on list attended that 
> workshop and would care to report, we'd be most interested in an 
> account, your impressions, info. on developments towards the ground 
> work on a forming group.
> 
> Christine Johnson
> Bastrop, Texas

I hope someone posts a report on the Senior workshop - will there be such
reports of all workshops on the website in time? 

I visited one Senior cohousing community in Denmark and one in Stockholm
and I think Jan Forbes studied senior cohousing extensively on her trip to
Denmark.  Jan, you around? 

I guess the main decision is whether you want exclusively senior
cohousing and what age that means.  Personally I prefer a mix of all ages
but I know some people have different preferences and both (and
variations) are possible and acceptable in my opinion (some people think
all cohousing has to be like their image of it - this is an ongoing
discussion theme here. )

 --- Fardknappen ---

The cohousing community Fardknappen in central Stockholm is unusual in
that it is specifically for people over 40 years old who dont have
dependents living with them. More about it:
http://csf.colorado.edu/mail/cohousing/2000/msg00784.html

Fred

--
Fred H. Olson  Minneapolis,MN 55411   (near north Mpls)
fholson [at] cohousing.org 612-588-9532 (7am-10pm Cent time)
List manager of Cohousing-L & Nbhd-tc  Ham radio:WB0YQM
http://www.cohousing.org/fholson


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