The population is turning increasingly gray and we're not prepared for it. Aging is a universal experience and it doesn't have to rhyme with loneliness, disability and dependency on others. Today, the senior citizens whose health is declining either withdraw from social life and stay at home or, when their state has deteriorated even more, move to a nursing home. A huge part of the elderly doesn't fit to either of these options, though they still need some sort of support in everyday life - they are active and lively, but struggle with ageing alone. To give the context, in 2018, 4 in 10 women in EU aged 65 or older lived alone and around one tenth of older people faced a burden from their housing costs. Today, most probably even more elderly people find it hard to afford their housing.

I'm convinced co-housing is a great solution to this challenge. It's a type of collaborative housing where senior citizens live together in a community setting. Benefits? Affordable cost (divided by all inhabitants), accessible space designed with needs of the elderly in mind, support services at hand (healthcare, meal preparation, transportation), independence, combatting loneliness and last but not least - mutual support and social interaction. Research shows that social connection helps seniors stay sharp and happy, improving cognitive flexibility and mental health.

Co-housing should be developed with urgency, with financial support from the EU, member states or local governments.