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Senior Co-Housing in the Netherlands: Benefits and Drawbacks for Its Residents

Author

Listed:
  • Katja Rusinovic

    (Faculty of Public Management, Law & Safety, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, 2521 EP The Hague, The Netherlands)

  • Marianne van Bochove

    (Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Jolien van de Sande

    (Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Senior co-housing communities offer an in-between solution for older people who do not want to live in an institutional setting but prefer the company of their age peers. Residents of co-housing communities live in their own apartments but undertake activities together and support one another. This paper adds to the literature by scrutinizing the benefits and drawbacks of senior co-housing, with special focus on the forms and limits of social support and the implications for the experience of loneliness. Qualitative fieldwork was conducted in eight co-housing communities in the Netherlands, consisting of document analysis, interviews, focus groups, and observations. The research shows that co-housing communities offer social contacts, social control, and instrumental and emotional support. Residents set boundaries regarding the frequency and intensity of support. The provided support partly relieves residents’ adult children from caregiving duties but does not substitute formal and informal care. Due to their access to contacts and support, few residents experience social loneliness. Co-housing communities can potentially also alleviate emotional loneliness, but currently, this happens to a limited degree. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for enhancing the benefits and reducing the drawbacks of senior co-housing.

Suggested Citation

  • Katja Rusinovic & Marianne van Bochove & Jolien van de Sande, 2019. "Senior Co-Housing in the Netherlands: Benefits and Drawbacks for Its Residents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:19:p:3776-:d:274129
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anne Labit, 2015. "Self-managed co-housing in the context of an ageing population in Europe," Urban Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 32-45, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Joost van Hoof & Hannah R. Marston, 2021. "Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: State of the Art and Future Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Maria Gabriella Melchiorre & Barbara D’Amen & Sabrina Quattrini & Giovanni Lamura & Marco Socci, 2022. "Caring for Frail Older People Living Alone in Italy: Future Housing Solutions and Responsibilities of Family and Public Services, a Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-29, June.
    3. Valentina Barbaccia & Laura Bravi & Federica Murmura & Elisabetta Savelli & Elena Viganò, 2022. "Mature and Older Adults’ Perception of Active Ageing and the Need for Supporting Services: Insights from a Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Joost van Hoof & Deirdre M. Beneken genaamd Kolmer & Erwin de Vlugt & Sanne I. de Vries, 2019. "Quality of Life: The Interplay between Human Behaviour, Technology and the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-7, December.
    5. Anna-Maria Lahti & Tuija M. Mikkola & Minna Salonen & Niko Wasenius & Anneli Sarvimäki & Johan G. Eriksson & Mikaela B. von Bonsdorff, 2021. "Mental, Physical and Social Functioning in Independently Living Senior House Residents and Community-Dwelling Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, November.
    6. Pilar Monton & Luisa-Eugenia Reyes & Carlos-María Alcover, 2022. "Personal Characteristics for Successful Senior Cohousing: A Proposed Theoretical Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    7. Katja M. Rusinovic & Marianne E. van Bochove & Suzanna Koops-Boelaars & Zsuzsu K.C.T. Tavy & Joost van Hoof, 2020. "Towards Responsible Rebellion: How Founders Deal with Challenges in Establishing and Governing Innovative Living Arrangements for Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-15, August.
    8. Amy H. I. Lee & He-Yau Kang, 2019. "A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model for Evaluating Senior Daycare Center Locations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.

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