The economic potential of home sharing cooperatives for active ageing of older people

Abstract

Active ageing in place through home sharing programmes has been largely ignored in the literature compared to other models such as senior cohousing. This article seeks to analyse the economic viability of a theoretical proposal for an older people's neighbourhood cooperative. The objective of this cooperative is to facilitate shared housing with the goal of acquiring economic resources through renting housing for remodelling and providing support services. A qualitative methodology is employed to gather the opinions of the older people in focus groups, accompanied by a quantitative methodology involving a cost-benefit economic study. This assessment utilizes parameters such as location, housing type, adaptation level and financing formula. The methodology is applied to two case studies in the cities of Seville and Malaga (Spain). The qualitative results reflect positively on the model and highlight the diversity of care situations for older people. This flexibility allows for the establishment of a cooperative model with varying degrees of self-sufficiency based on adaptation level, services, and conditions for sharing space. Finally, the article discusses the advantages of the model for public policies related to the active ageing of older people and housing. It emphasizes the potential to increase the rental housing supply.