Creating Community: A Smart Aging Option for Solo Agers

More adults than ever are aging without a spouse, children, or nearby family to rely on. These “solo agers” are independent, capable, and often deeply connected to friends—but they may wonder: Who will be there for me when I need support?

One increasingly popular answer is to create your own community. Rather than aging alone, many solo agers are intentionally forming shared living arrangements with trusted friends, pooling resources, sharing responsibilities, and building support systems by design rather than by default.

A group of four cheerful friends shares laughter and drinks in a cozy, well-lit bar setting, enjoying a lively conversation together.

What Does a Shared Aging Community Look Like?

There is no one-size-fits-all model. These arrangements can take many forms:

·         Purchasing a large home together and sharing common spaces

·         Building or renovating properties with private suites and shared kitchens or living areas

·         Buying homes in the same neighborhood to create a “pocket community”

·         Investing in multi-unit properties where everyone maintains their own space but shares expenses and support

Some call it co-housing. Others call it intentional community. At its core, it’s about aging with trusted people instead of aging in isolation.

Why Solo Agers Are Choosing This Option

1. Built-in Social Connection Loneliness is one of the biggest health risks for older adults. Living alongside close friends provides daily interaction, shared meals, and emotional support.

2. Shared Financial Responsibility Housing, utilities, maintenance, and even hired caregiving can be shared expenses, making quality support more affordable.

3. Practical Support Who will drive you home after a procedure? Pick up prescriptions? Notice if something seems off? A community of trusted friends creates informal accountability and backup.

4. Greater Control Unlike moving into a traditional senior community, this model allows individuals to design the environment, culture, and decision-making structure themselves.

The Important Conversations to Have

While this model offers meaningful benefits, it requires thoughtful planning. Friendship alone is not a plan.

Before moving forward, groups should clearly discuss:

·         How property ownership will be structured

·         How expenses will be divided

·         What happens if someone wants to leave

·         What happens if someone’s care needs increase

·         How decisions will be made

·         What happens if a member dies

Without clear agreements, even the strongest friendships can be strained under stress.

Legal and Planning Considerations

Creating a shared aging community often requires:

·         Written co-ownership or operating agreements

·         Clear estate planning documents

·         Durable Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives

·         Long-term care planning

·         Contingency plans for incapacity

It’s also important to consider how future Medicaid eligibility or long-term care funding could be affected by shared ownership arrangements.

When Care Needs Increase

One of the biggest questions solo agers face is: What happens when one of us needs more care than the group can provide?

Some communities plan to hire in-home caregivers collectively. Others agree in advance that if a member requires skilled nursing care, they will transition to a higher level of care while remaining emotionally connected to the group. Planning for this stage early preserves both dignity and friendship.

Independence—Together

The idea of aging in a self-created community isn’t about avoiding traditional senior living. It’s about expanding the options. For many solo agers, the greatest fear isn’t death, it’s dependency and isolation. Creating an intentional community with trusted friends offers a powerful alternative: independence, shared responsibility, and meaningful connection. The key is this, just like any good plan for aging, it works best when it’s proactive.

You don’t wait for a crisis to build community. You build it now—so when life changes, you are not facing it alone.