Alternative Senior Living Options Compiled by Geri Spieler

For many years, multi-generational families lived together. There were no senior homes and retirement communities. Grandparents watched the grandchildren while Mom and Dad worked and provided for the family. Mom may not have a career, but she was shopping, cooking, sewing and milking the cows.

Of course, all of that has changed as the U.S. became an industrialized country. A more mobile society provided opportunities outside of many hometowns, which has contributed to the growth of more places for seniors to live.

As the economy ebbed and flowed, children found new jobs and the formerly the multi-generational family began to split apart. Today, in the 21st century, in the U.S., the Baby Boomer population forged the growth for alternative retirement communities and options.

The Population Bubble

A plethora of new living arrangements began to appear in the 1960’s known as “senior communities” for people over the age of 55. These were not convalescent homes where patients went directly from the hospital to recover, but before going home. These were, and are, living communities that cater to the needs of an older population: Some healthy and active as well as for those infirm both mentally and physically.

Some of the newer active senior communities are built around the style, while some are attached homes. Almost all have a security guard at the entrance and are known as a “gated community.”

Today there are many offshoots of the senior lifestyle living arrangements. However, not all seniors age 55 and up wants to live apart from their communities, but require more assistance for their day-to-day living. As people age, certain abilities wane, such as the ability to drive, managing meals and some in-home medical support that may include keeping track of medications.

The variety of senior living lifestyles vary. The Baby Boomer population started are now entering into their 60’s. The bulk of the demographic, according the U.S. Census Bureau, identifies seventy-six million American children were born between 1945 and 1964, representing a cohort that is significant on account of its size alone. This includes people who are between 51 and 70 years old in 2016.

With such a large population within those ages, the economic, religious, racial and educational disparities naturally lead to a multiple of desired living arrangements or at least different, as they march into retirement.

Below we outline several variations on the theme of senior living styles and communities.

1. Home Sharing

Home sharing for seniors can solve many problems. There are two main forms of home sharing.

A. Matchup programs, These programs match homeowners with someone looking for a home (called a home seeker.) The home seeker pays rent or can combine support services with some rent in exchange for a place to live. The process for matchup programs normally includes an application, interviews, home visits, reference checks, and a home share agreement.

B. Shared living residences. http://elderthink.com/leaving-home/alternative-senior-lifestyles/ home-sharing. PHP

These are usually fairly large homes with six or seven bedrooms. Seniors share the whole and each has his or her own bedroom.

2. Senior Different Kinds of Villages for Elders A. The Senior idea involves a community of seniors, usually over the age of 55, who have similar interests. For example, homes can be clustered around a golf course or lake. There is a central location for social gatherings and organized activities, vans for shopping trips and expeditions, and a trained staff who focus on entertainment. Most senior villages also offer an assisted living component for those who are slowing down and need more care.

For those who prefer to “stay put” and don’t want to leave their home and community, often join what many call a “village” which is formed around neighborhoods and geographic areas.

What about a ride to the movies or the doctor's? The villages also offer rich opportunities to get out of the house and socialize at interesting events.

B. Active Adult Communities provide activities and services for community members. These can include golf, tennis, ocean views, a marina, country and mountain views, a country club, walking and biking trails, a , exercise room, and community gathering place

3. Independent living communities are places for active, healthy seniors who are able to live on their own. http://www.seniorliving.org/retirement/senior-lifestyles/ The contained village for older adults that might remind you of your college years. The village is made up of private or exclusively for seniors. They come and go as they please and have their own furnishings, but have centralized meals delivered to them or served in a community setting. The village also may provide social functions, cleaning services and laundry, and some transportation. The main highlights of independent living communities:

• Condos or apartments with 25 to 120 units • Single rooms to full apartments • Three meals a day in a common dining area Staff available for personal needs • Amenities like 24-hour security, housekeeping, medication management, laundry service, exercise programs, social activities and transportation • Emergency call systems in-house

4. Congregational Living http://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/congregational-living/

Age requirements: Varies: age 55+, 62+, and 65+

Basic resident requirements: Residents must be able to feed, dress and wash themselves, take care of their personal hygiene, and must be mobile, even with a wheelchair. Residents also must be able to get in and out of chairs, use the toilet unassisted and be able to get outdoors.

Accommodations: Private rooms; Apartments-- 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3- bedroom (kitchenettes, thermostat, fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler system, air conditioning, cable TV, emergency phone system).

Amenities: community center, computer access, indoor/outdoor pool, laundry, , dining room, library, guest rooms

Services: 24-hour staffing, housekeeping, personal laundry

Dining options: usually one meal a day is served. Vegetarian, low salt, diabetic

5. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elder Living

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force estimate that there are over 3 million GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) elders in the U.S. with that number doubling by 2030. The senior GLBT community faces a variety of challenges such as Social Security benefits, hospital visitation, and social isolation even within the GLBT community.

Gay Elder Living Fortunately, the number of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender elder living options is growing. And as the demand rises—and it should—even more GLBT communities will be built.

6. Senior Cooperative Care In senior cooperative housing, active 55 and older residents own a share of the community with an equal voice in how it’s run. The tax benefits of home ownership are there, but without the hassle of home upkeep. This makes an ideal transition from long-time home ownership to a more maintenance free life.

Senior Cooperative Housing Senior cooperative housing has been a fixture in the Midwest for over 35 years and is gaining some traction in the South and West with communities in Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Washington. The majority of the 100 or so communities across 10 states sit in Minnesota.

If you’re a baby boomer retiree looking for alternative living, senior cooperative housing may be the counterculture flashback you’ve been looking for—sans the free love and mind-altering substances. And while co-op living is not exactly a commune or kibbutz, it does share many of the social aspects such as tending to a community garden, on-site activities, and clubs.

7. Ownership in Senior Cooperative Housing http://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/senior-cooperative-housing/

The target market for senior cooperative housing is middle to upper middle-income seniors.

Becoming a resident and shareholder requires two costs: a one-time share cost (down payment) and a monthly fee. The share cost can be significant, usually 20% to 40% of the unit’s value.

Mortgages for co-ops are on what’s called a master mortgage, most often HUD-insured on a 40-year note at a competitive interest rate.

Co-op housing shouldn’t be looked at as a major investment. Yes, your home can appreciate, but it’s usually limited (called, ironically, “limited equity”) to 1 percent or 2 percent a year. This keeps the units affordable for new residents and decreases the selling time.

If you decide to sell, the cooperative usually retains the first options to buy. Whether the cooperative or a new resident buys, you receive your share cost plus any accrued equity from the sale. Typically, the co-op helps market and sell the home.

Like a condominium, you have occupancy rights as long as you pay your monthly payment. Stop paying and the co-op can “force sell” your membership.

Home Types

Senior cooperative housing can come in all flavors: single-family home, townhomes, multi-family, high-rise apartments, mobile homes, etc.

Age of Residents

Just like other age-restricted retirement communities, senior cooperative housing communities follow the law. This means that 80% of homes must be occupied by households with one member who is 55 and older.

Senior Co-op vs. Condo

Residents of a senior cooperative own and operate their community through a Board of Directors elected by and from the residents.

Rather than obtaining outside financing as in the case of a condo, you pay a monthly fee to a master mortgage. One monthly fee covers the “mortgage” payment, taxes, insurance, utilities, cable TV, maintenance, and a reserve.

8. HUD Housing Options http://www.seniorliving.org/lifestyles/hud-senior-housing-programs/

Introduction to HUD Programs

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) creates affordable housing for citizens across the country by funding programs for rent assistance, home ownership, and assistive services for seniors and the disabled.

“HUD helps more than 900,000 seniors with affordable housing through its programs. There are three types of affordable rental programs: , multifamily subsidized housing, and voucher housing programs.”

Public Housing is owned and run by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). Multifamily Subsidized Housing is privately owned housing that is subsidized by HUD and provides tenants with affordable housing. Housing Vouchers provide rental assistance to individuals and families for housing in the private market.” http://bearmarketnewssenior.blogspot.com/

*Several important things to keep in mind with HUD programs:

The waiting lists are often long (from two to five years), especially in metro areas.

For those in need of assisted care, HUD options are limited. HUD programs are designed primarily for independent seniors. Because one Public Housing Agency (PHA) doesn’t have the housing you’re looking for, doesn’t mean another one won’t.

9. Housing Vouchers

Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8)

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) provides rent vouchers for housing in the private market for low income individuals, families, the elderly and the disabled. It is the largest assisted housing program administered by HUD.

These vouchers are linked to specific properties run by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). There are two kinds of vouchers: tenant-based and project-based. Tenant based vouchers (TBVs) move with the renter. Project based vouchers (PBVs) are assigned to particular units and and are not transferable.

Who is Eligible?

There is no age requirement. Families or individuals who meet the extremely low-income requirements (30% of the area’s median), and very low income (50% of area median) based on total gross income. In some cases, those with low income (80% of area median) are eligible.

Income such as pensions, retirement accounts, IRAs, insurance annuities, and assets such as real estate, , etc. ARE counted when assessing eligibility.

10. Alternative options

1. Home Sharing https://www.caring.com/articles/creative-senior-housing-options

For now, the most popular "kid" on the housing block is called "home sharing." Here's the idea: You rent out a room or rooms in your house, let's say, or live at someone else's and share common areas. Or you might move into a place new to everyone, renting or buying, or even purchase a share of an owner's home. Whatever the arrangement, it's a way to significantly shave living expenses, have companionship, and perhaps feel safer. Home-matching services are springing up to meet the demand.

2. Cohousing

Members typically buy a or condo in a community and share some outdoor and inside space. (A few communities allow rentals.) Residents shape the community and make all decisions by consensus. The majority of the 150 or so cohousing projects nationwide are multigenerational, although a handful are age 50+ (referred to as "elder" or "senior cohousing").

Whether they include all ages or just a certain age, every cohousing project has a common house with a kitchen -- you can prepare and eat a meal or two a week with other residents if you choose -- a living room for meetings or hanging out, a bedroom or two for guests or a future caregiver, and whatever else the community wants, from a dance or yoga studio to a teen room.

To explore cohousing, go to nationalsharedhousing.org/ or www.cohouseholding.org.

11. Niche Communities

These are for retirement-age (whatever that is!) people who share the same interests or lifestyle. For instance, it might be a university-based (UBRC) on or near a college where you can take courses. Or LGBT housing for older adults. Or, really, any affinity group. There's a nudist community in Florida; who knows, dog lovers, techies, or country music fans may decide they want to live together.

12. Multigenerational Living

How about Mom, Dad, and maybe those adult children under the same roof with you? Oh, and maybe the grandkids!

U.S. Census Bureau data puts the number of Americans in this arrangement at around 57 million. That reflects a 10.5 percent hike in multigenerational living from 2007 to 2009. A couple of good reasons: Pooled finances go further, and don't forget the built-in babysitters and eldercare help. There's another: the frighteningly higher costs of long-term care that can run $81,000 to $92,000 annually for a nursing home, and more than $42,000 for assisted living.

13. Continuing Care Retirement Communities. CCRC Such an arrangement offers the convenience of staying in the same community if health needs change. Some CCRC’s allow people to stay in the same , but offer increased care, where others have separate facilities, but in the same community when assisted living or nursing care becomes necessary. Healthy adults that move in can remain independent in single-family homes, apartments or . As the need for assistance becomes necessary, services are available. The convenience can be very comforting knowing a major move will not be necessary should the need arise.

Geri Spieler is a Silicon Valley Freelance Writer. www.gerispieler.com