Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Please add me to Seniors in Cohousing list

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Apr 20, 2026, at 12:01 PM, Marina King/US/WA/98118/SC via Cohousing-L 
> <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> 
> I live in cohousing now and am experiencing some frustration with our age 65+ 
> community. I’d like to gain some insight on how an aging cohousing community 
> can continue to function optimally.

Could you say more about these frustrations?

After 25 years as a founding member of a cohousing community, I moved to a top 
rated senior living community. I’m enjoying, to my surprise, living in a 55+ 
community, and I see some things that might benefit all cohousing communities. 
At 83 after many years of studying and participating in governance and 
self-management, I appreciate that there is a staff always available to offer 
services and respond to emergencies. And in a larger community there are more 
people — in fact there are several pages of the residents handbook that list 
the tasks and phone numbers of people have volunteered to do. My favorite is 
“will help open jars.” But there is also a team that will help people plan and 
conduct parties and celebrations. A great opportunity for people who love 
parties and don’t have enough opportunities in their own lives to entertain. 
The team promises that all parties end at 9:30. I have yet to receive an email 
from a neighbor here after 10:00. Life happens early but in a multigenerational 
community it didn’t extend more than an hour or so later.

I like not having to depend on a personal relationship to ensure a response to 
needs. I don’t like asking for what are essentially favors on a regular basis. 
At 83, the favors needed are not necessarily big — help picking up a heavy box 
from the floor or changing a lightbulb — but much more frequent. I don’t know 
how senior communities are managing this.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Riderwood Village, Silver Spring MD
Founding member and 25 year resident in Takoma Village, Washington DC