The Senior Cohousing Handbook, 2nd Edition: A Community Approach to Independent Living (Senior Cohousing Handbook: A Community Approach to Independent) (Paperback)

~ Charles Durrett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Architect and author Chuck Durrett's recently released book Senior Cohousing Handbook comes at a time of high interest in greening, sustainable housing and affordable living concerns. Durrett's new book is a comprehensive guide for baby boomers wishing to continue vibrant, active lifestyles." - EPR Real Estate News

"Make your senior years safe and socially fun with the idea of senior cohousing and a book on the topic that shows how seniors can custom-build their neighborhood to fit their needs. This is housing built by seniors, not for them, and emphasizes independence and social networking. Any library strong in gerontology or social science and many a general lending library needs this. - James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review 

 

 

"As a Baby Boomer, I've joked for a few years that we'll all end up living communally again because Social Security will be broke...This is one of the better ways to envision it."--Sacramento Bee

No matter how rich life is in youth and middle age, the elder years can bring on increasing isolation and loneliness as social connections lessen, especially if friends and family members move away.

Senior cohousing fills a niche for this demographic—the healthy, educated, and proactive adults who want to live in a social and environmentally vibrant community. These seniors are already wanting to ward off the aging process, so they are unlikely to want to live in assisted housing. Senior cohousing revolves around custom-built neighborhoods organized by the seniors themselves in order to fit in with their real needs, wants, and aspirations for health, longevity, and quality of life.

Senior Cohousing is a comprehensive guide to joining or creating a cohousing project, written by the US leader in the field. The author deals with all the psychological and logistical aspects of senior cohousing and addresses common concerns, fears, and misunderstandings. He emphasizes the many positive benefits of cohousing, including:

• Better physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health
• Friendships and accessible social contact
• Safety and security
• Affordability
• Shared resources

Successful aging requires control of one’s life, and today's generation of seniors—the baby boomers—will find that this book holds a compelling vision for their future.

Charles Durrett is a principal at McCamant & Durrett in Nevada City, California, a firm that specializes in affordable cohousing. He co-authored the groundbreaking Cohousing with his wife and business partner, Kathryn McCamant.

About the Author

Charles Durrett is the principal at McCamant & Durrett, a firm that specializes in affordable and community-based multi-family housing and cohousing. He has consulted on or designed over fifty cohousing communities internationally and lives in Nevada City, California. He co-authored the groundbreaking Cohousing with his wife and business partner Kathryn McCamant.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers; 2 edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865716110
• ISBN-13: 978-0865716117
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #138,809 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #20 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Aging Parents > Retirement Planning
  #53 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Gerontology
  #80 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Urban & Land Use Planning

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Especially recommended for anyone considering joining or establishing such a senior citizen housing arrangement, July 18, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

In the United States it was the creation of the Social Security and Medicare that help to diminish what had been a chronic problem of poverty among the elderly. But while economic assistance went a long way to improving the quality of their lives, the increasing fragmentation of the family structure continued to exacerbate problems of isolation and loneliness among the aged. That was a driving force behind the creation of community approach to independent living for the elderly. This newly emerging concept now has a documented track record of providing senior citizens with a living environment that contributes to a healthy, safe, stimulating, and socially active retirement. This is all laid out, replete with real-life examples, in the pages of Charles Durrett's "The Senior Cohousing Handbook" which defines, explains, and demonstrates the concepts, organization, structures, and benefits of a co-housing approach to senior living. A thoroughly 'reader friendly' and profusely illustrated instruction manual, "The Senior Cohousing Handbook" is especially recommended for anyone considering joining or establishing such a senior citizen housing arrangement in their own community.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aging in Community, June 8, 2009

By	Mavis Marshall "Mavis" (Sammamish, WA) - See all my reviews

It offers lots of ideas about aging in community that will be of interest to those deciding what to do for retirement living.