Creative Ways To Age In Place
If you have been wondering how to live well in the next chapter of life, you are not alone. A thoughtful Wall Street Journal feature explores the creative ways older Americans are choosing to live today, and it is packed with ideas that go far beyond the traditional senior community. You can read the full article here: New Housing Options Emerge for Older Americans.
What The Article Highlights
Older Americans are living longer and reimagining where and with whom they want to live. The story profiles real households choosing fresh paths:
- Home Sharing For Companionship And Cost Control. Some owners are opening a spare bedroom to a vetted housemate through nonprofit match services. The payoff is more than rent relief. One Portland homeowner felt safer traveling for months at a time and even had support after a car accident because a housemate was there to help.
- Roommates In Their Eighties. A Colorado dancer with rising monthly fees matched with a peer tenant and found a genuine friendship while cutting expenses. These programs often provide background checks, template agreements, and mediation so the relationships start with clear expectations.
- Multigenerational Living By Design. Builders are responding with “home within a home” layouts that include a separate suite with its own entrance, kitchenette, living area, bedroom, and bath. One family used this to keep an aging parent close while preserving independence for everyone.
- Cohousing Communities. In Silicon Valley, an owner built a 19-unit community with gardens and shared spaces. Residents organize themselves, make decisions by consensus, and have a waitlist because the lifestyle is so appealing.
The article also points to data underscoring why these models are gaining traction for older Americans. Most adults over 50 want to remain in their homes as they age, yet costs, upkeep, and health make that difficult. At the same time, the number of older adults living with unrelated housemates has more than doubled in two decades, and multigenerational households continue to grow.
How To Use These Ideas In Real Life
- Start With Your Priorities. Do you want daily companionship, a lighter budget, travel flexibility, or on-site family support
- Match The Model To The Need.
- Housemate programs can be ideal if you have extra space and want company or help with chores.
- Multigenerational layouts work when family lives nearby and privacy matters.
- Cohousing fits people who value community, shared amenities, and collaborative decision making.
- Put Agreements In Writing. Even among friends, use a written housemate or intergenerational living agreement that spells out rent, chores, quiet hours, parking, guests, and what happens if someone needs to change the arrangement. Many nonprofits featured in the article provide templates.
- Think Access And Safety. Whatever you choose, plan for single-level living, minimal stairs, wide doorways, good lighting, and bathroom grab bars.
- Run The Numbers. Compare the monthly costs of staying put with a housemate versus relocating to a condo, a multigenerational home, or a senior community. Include utilities, insurance, maintenance, transportation, taxes, and a cushion for care.
My Take
I love that this conversation has moved beyond a one size fits all answer. The best solution is the one that fits your life now and can flex with you later. That might be a housemate who waters the plants and shares dinner twice a week. It might be a thoughtfully designed suite under the same roof as your kids. It might even be joining forces with friends to build a small pocket community with shared gardens and guest rooms. The common thread is intentionality. Decide what matters, then design housing to support that.
If you are weighing a move or considering a home update so you can age in place, I am happy to talk through scenarios and connect you with a vetted real estate agent in your market who understands these choices and can help you buy or sell with clarity.
