Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Sharon Villines (sharon![]() |
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Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2016 08:19:53 -0800 (PST) |
I know this is a sensitive topic and no one may respond at all. How many people who need extra support can a community accommodate without becoming dominantly a care community? After 15 years of pretty normal life stresses I think this is a serious question. I used to wonder if everyone in cohousing had problems and that’s why they moved in. But then I realized that these are all common problems but we usually don’t know about them. In cohousing we know. In 15 years, we have had: pregnancies (not all easy) births (not all easy) long periods of cancer treatments, incapacity, and death divorces sudden deaths household conflicts that affected others teens with emotional and behavior problems teens chronically truant stress from unemployment in more than one household descents into infirmity and senility absence to deal with family issues elsewhere absence to find employment elsewhere accidents or illnesses dangerous to residents with particular vulnerabilities children without enough care at home special attention to all facilities and activities so they are accessible I’ve worded these as multiples so I’m not pointing a finger at one person but almost all of these were multiples. Some of the most difficult were multiples — cancer, for example. Nine months of a difficult pregnancy next door is nine months of a difficult pregnancy in my unit too. And I have 43 units “next door.” People being unemployed, particularly with children, makes me particularly anxious. We are a community with many people working for non-profit organizations. During the big recession many were out of work, some several times. Others took income reductions of 10%. Some were repeatedly unemployed. There are many examples of care communities designed for foster parents, etc., so this can certainly be done. But when the percentage of households rises above a certain level, it isn’t “normal.” Normal is time-consuming enough. I had a friend whose husband died of Alzheimer’s. She benefitted from a support group and day care, but when neighbors also had spouses with Alzheimer’s, they either avoided each other or didn't discuss it. Otherwise they would have been overwhelmed. They would have had Alzheimer’s 24/7 themselves. Welcoming diversity means welcoming diversity. I’m not speaking against focussed communities but the reality is that cohousing might be different from other solutions, but any focus will reduce diversity — not increase it. And will need specialized support available, not just neighbors. One child who needs special supervision, can be supported by neighbors. But can five? Or even 3? We need to be careful what we promise because often unwittingly, we are already taking on responsibilities when we choose cohousing. That’s what makes a neighborhood. Sharon ---- Sharon Villines Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC http://www.takomavillage.org
- Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities, (continued)
- Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities Dennis Clark, January 14 2016
- Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities Seanain Snow, January 15 2016
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Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities Karen Sheldon, January 15 2016
- Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities Laura Fitch, January 15 2016
- Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities Sharon Villines, January 15 2016
- Re: Cohousing that integrates a limited number of adult persons with disabilities Kathryn McCamant, January 15 2016
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