The big question about shared living is whether it can actually improve one’s mental health and well-being. Many people have taken co-living seriously and instead of just seeing it as living together while sharing specific living areas; they see it as commitment and forge a relationship with each other. They even go to the extent of having meals together. This shared loyalty makes people happy and thus causes them to live longer, just by having companions whom they can rely upon. In this type of set-up, dwellers are intentional about their relationships, they speak their mind, they share experiences, and when necessary they apologize. They intend living in this space for many years so if the offense is taken, apologies are offered, and the relationship is patched up again.
Research shows that with the rising global economic prosperity, there has been a notable decline in people’s happiness. Many believe that this is due to isolation and many researchers believed that there was an undeniable relationship between communities that were strong and the mental health of communities. As humans, our social skills set us apart from any other creature out there. People have a natural, in-built need for interaction with people and well-being. Well-being can be defined as being comfortable, happy and satisfied.
The great demand for co-living
The demand for cohousing is rising as the patterns for working, relaxing and interacting have evolved drastically. At the very essence of co-living is the need to live affordably but also interact with other people. Some of the many facilities that cohousing dwellers enjoy includes:
- Gyms
- Libraries
- Events
- Cinema theatres
In yesteryears cohousing existing in the form of old age homes where groups of elderly people were housed in individual units but shared facilities.
A new generation of dwellers
Cohousing today is not limited for a specific group of people, it can be for professionals, older folk, singles, families, just about anyone who wants to join in. There are many communities being set up in different parts of the world as an alternative to the loneliness that one may feel. Cohousing not only combats loneliness but it helps older folk to feel more active, energetic and included. Research has also shown that it may reduce the demand for health care services.
Cohousing has become a lucrative market for developers and dwellers alike as they attract people who are willing to pay the price for the ease of having all the amenities they could possibly need, close by. These communities are constantly striving to encourage people to make a contribution to their neighbourhoods and to become part of the area in which they reside. Developers believe that it is vital to understand the need of the community prior to making cohousing spaces available. Cohousing is growing in leaps and bounds and in the next 5 years will become more in-tune with communities and provide people with the sense of belonging that they crave.