Co-caring in Senior Cohousing: A Canadian Model for Social Sustainability

This paper focuses on Harbourside Cohousing under development in Sooke, BC, and on the innovative Royal Roads University course that attracts new members to the cohousing and raises awareness of aging options in the larger community. Harbourside will be the second senior cohousing in Canada, the first with a care-giver suite, and the first to require a short course on Aging Well in Community as a prerequisite for membership. Experiential learning in the course helps people to get out of denial about growing older. They explore how cocaring can ensure social connection with their community and help them stay in cohousing and out of institutional care as they age.