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Here at Home Evolutions, we are always interested in informing you about all of the personalized home remodeling options that we offer which can help you to age-in-place comfortably and safely. But we also occasionally like to present other ideas and options (like home sharing) that may also allow you to remain living independently in your own house for years to come.

In a recent article by Dr. Christina M. Anastasia, she addresses this growing, aging-in-place living option. Anastasia believes that as more seniors and people with disabilities choose to age-in-place, one nontraditional option that is now taking root in the United States and abroad is home sharing/cooperative living—or sharing a home with one or more people. She notes, “This long overlooked option may satisfy many of the different needs of retirees.”

The article references a research study exploring factors that influence people who are seeking non-traditional cooperative living arrangements during retirement. The study observed 18 retired or near-retired people who were home sharing.

Seniors and people with disabilities may each have very different and specific personal, medical, financial, and other reasons why they would choose to home share. “While economic factors influenced the initial decision to live cooperatively, social interaction through friendship and activity was the primary driving force remaining in this alternative type of living scenario,” adds Anastasia.

In other words, the study found that home sharing can satisfy both financial necessity and personal needs for interaction and socialization during life’s later years. In fact, most of the situations examined initially began out of financial need, but then progressed into social environments of friendships and relationships that also increased overall satisfaction with living and aging.

The study also addressed the natural fear of aging, and how home sharing can help somewhat alleviate that fear. Anastasia explains, “It found that as people entered into these home sharing situations, this fear of the unknown was replaced with an excitement about life as a retiree.” So as an added bonus, financial and social necessities are also satisfied because (as shown by the study’s results), home sharing participants share resources and eventually begin embracing other activities that are not associated with just surviving.

“Volunteering, physical activity, reading, writing, and traveling were among the more popular changes in the living scenarios,” adds Anastasia.

She offers the following tips to consider before deciding to home share:

•    Research home sharing;
•    First talk to friends who might want to share a home;
•    Pre-existing friendships eliminate much of the fear associated with change;
•    Ask for references when deciding to use home share matching organizations.

And remember, if you do decide that home sharing might be an option, you can also greatly enhance the livability of your house for you and your living companion by utilizing the CAPS designated, aging-in-place, remodeling services of a company like Home Evolutions.

Take the next step toward your independent future. Now through May 31, 2009, as part of our outstanding service to our customers, Home Evolutions is offering a free in-home assessment. We’ll conduct a thorough evaluation of your current lifestyle and home to identify what can make your home safer and more accessible. Please note:  This limited time offer is currently available only to residences within Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in this free, limited time offer, please fill out our contact form today and one of our representatives will be in touch to schedule a convenient time to visit you in your home.

Might home sharing be an aging-in-place option for you? Is your house aging-in-place ready for a cooperative living companion?