Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living.

Two Day Workshop: Wed, 6/24/09 – Thur, 6/25/09 (8:30 am – 5:00 pm)

Price: $195, including lunch

This workshop presented by Senior Cohousing author, Charles Durrett, will help participants examine issues related to aging and aging in place, within the context of a safe and comfortable environment of inquiry and discovery and in the context of cohousing. It seeks to foster the consciousness necessary for seniors to choose among a broader set of choices and become more deterministic about their future. Participants in this experiential workshop will engage in a comprehensive exploration of the issues that surface when working with a diverse group of people who are actively grappling with aging, denial, and the growth necessary to become more self-deterministic about their own future.

In Denmark they call this workshop Study Group 1: Aging Successfully, Aging in Community. Even there, if you ask one thousand people on the street if they would ever be interested in moving into Senior Cohousing, only two or three would say yes. But if you ask the same one thousand people after they attended a Study Group workshop, about 400 would say yes. Only then does the general population become aware of the emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits of living in a supportive environment — an environment where proximity and mutual concern play such a large role in making life more economical, practical, environmentally responsible and fun. Come find out what “factory” of consciousness raising that Danes have employed to build over 250 senior cohousing projects in a country of less than 5 million in the last 20 years and that has influenced senior housing across the board. Slide shows, talks, fun and games and more — don’t miss it!

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PRESENTER: Charles Durrett, noted architect and author, introduced the concept of cohousing to the U.S. from its success in Denmark. Cohousing offers new architectural and social models of housing designed for families seeking a balance of independence and sociability, community and privacy. As a leader in sustainable design, Durrett designs projects that are space-efficient, easy to maintain, and cost-effective. His firm’s primary concern is people, their environment, and the quality of their lives. His socially relevant projects have won numerous awards, including the Human Habitat Award by the United Nations, and his work has received considerable national recognition. He is also the author of the groundbreaking book, Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living – The Handbook (New Society Press).