Self-managed collaborative housing for older people: motivations, challenges and demands

Abstract

This article explores the rise of collaborative housing among older adults in Spain. These initiatives, emerging from social movements, reflect a grassroots model of living that aims to redefine the aging process through collective self-management of this life cycle. Using a qualitative methodology, five cohousing communities in different regions, including rural areas facing demographic challenges, are studied. The article addresses the relationship between the concept of "commons" and feminist theories of social reproduction. These housing arrangements will be examined in terms of their dynamics, demands, limitations, and interactions with both public and private sectors.