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We decided we wanted to live in an adult-only community but another option for older people is family-based cohousing. There is a small but growing number of co-housing communities throughout the country that cater for both families and individuals and you can find information about these on the UK Cohousing Network’s website: www.cohousing.org.uk.

We also decided from the start that we would be a group for older women. This is because we are very conscious that it is older women who are most likely to be alone in later life, usually through widowhood or divorce – 60% of women over the age of 70 live alone. We also tend to lack financial security and to live quite long lives. Sadly, isolation and lack of stimulus can lead to health problems for some and an earlier need for care. We want to prevent such problems for as long as possible and to support each other in the every-day ups and downs of growing old, staying active and healthy for as long as we can.

It is one of our strongly held principles that we should embrace both women who need affordable rents and women who own or part-own their homes, without distinction. Eligibility for the subsidised rental accommodation in our future cohousing community will of course be subject to the requirements of the local authority’s housing register as well as to the OWCH group’s entry provisions. Residents also have to be members of OWCH, participate fully and subscribe to our key values. Membership of OWCH does not convey automatic entitlement to a residential unit.

Our cohousing BUILDING will not become a reality immediately but we hope it will become one within a few years, during which time members will participate actively with its planning.

If you are reading this because you have begun to think about your future as a lone older woman, get in touch with us; details are on our contact page.

Who are we ? | What does cohousing mean to us ?