"The Best Place to Be": Experiences of Older Adults Living in Canadian Cohousing Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As in other countries, the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has created both an economic and social upheaval in the lives of Canadians, and in particular the health and well-being of older adults has been significantly negatively affected. There is little knowledge about the impact on older adults living in cohousing communities during the pandemic. Our overall objective in this study was to identify how living in a cohousing community during the pandemic affected the lives of older adults. Guided by a critical gerontological perspective in this qualitative exploratory study, from October 2021-January 2022 we interviewed 13 participants living in 12 different Canadian cohousing communities. Each of the communities either served older adults exclusively or included older adults in a multigenerational community. The participants included about 70% women, and about half were 60-74 and half 75 or older. Five of the cohousing communities had cases of COVID-19. We used an inductive thematic analysis approach to identify the following 5 themes: 1) We worked hard to stay connected; 2) We benefitted from having people with skills related to COVID-19; 3) Anyone need anything? Elevated levels of mutual support; 4) We had no idea that cohousing design would be COVID-19 friendly design; and 5) It’s the most divisive and challenging time we have ever had: Vaccination status. The social infrastructure, opportunities for ongoing social engagement, and the physical design of shared indoor and outdoor spaces were beneficial to the physical and mental well-being for older adults during the pandemic. However, community members choosing not to not get vaccinated emerged as a key area that could create challenges in working together for the common good of the community. These results contribute evidence that public investment is needed in Canada to expand opportunities for older adults to live in cohousing communities.