Shared Living: affordable housing for seniors in Chicago
Shared Living means ‘Privacy when you want it. Assistance when you need it.’
Over fifteen years ago, Al moved to a nursing home after surgery. Though he didn’t need 24-hour care, he lived there for several years, a costly and unhappy experience. Then, Al heard about H.O.M.E. and completed the application process and moved into Pat Crowley House (PCH) one of our Shared Living houses. At PCH he has his own room and shares meals and common areas with residents ages 23 to 89. Al has lived at PCH for 11 years and credits H.O.M.E. and the people he has met there with saving his life. He calls Caren, H.O.M.E.’s housing coordinator, a “saint.” He always connects with volunteers, resident assistants and other residents. Al says about H.O.M.E., “We are a family.”
Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) offers Shared Living to individuals like Al at Pat Crowley House and Nathalie Salmon House.
Shared Living is a wonderful affordable option for seniors who need some assistance (but do not need 24-hour nursing care), or for seniors who relish a more family like living environment. We provide a place where older adults do not have to choose between neglect and institutionalization. We believe that you don’t need to sacrifice your independence just because you need assistance in your life. Our model has been endorsed by Affordable Living for the Aging (ALA) in its report, AFFORDABLE LIVING FOR THE AGING STRATEGIES FOR SCALING SHARED HOUSING: Best Practices, Challenges & Recommendations
Our Shared Living services and amenities include:
- A bedroom to call your own, (some residents bring their own furniture or H.O.M.E. can provide it)
- Daily home-cooked meals served family style
- On-site staff 24/7
- Assistance with housekeeping, laundry, and personal support and requests
- Engaging programs and social activities
- An intergenerational setting—seniors, college age young people and families with children live in the same house
In May, Older Americans Month, we will be highlighting intergenerational living in this blog. If you want to know more now here are two good articles, one from PBS NEWSHOUR and the other from Huffington Post. Interestingly, the Newshour article makes it sound like intergenerational living is a new idea but, we've been doing it for over 30 years in our three properties!
One of our residents, Christine, pictured above on the right, was about to sleep in her car when she called us. She moved into our Pat Crowley House two days before Christmas, and she’s told us many times, it was the best holiday she had in ages. Now she is an active volunteer and has participated in the last two Hunger Walks.
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