On Oct. 20, more than two dozen thought leaders in Sarasota County convened to hear author Beth Baker share innovations in age-friendly housing happening throughout the nation. Baker, who is the author of Creating Community as We Age, spoke to leading members of the real estate, building and construction industries as well as government and housing representatives.

During the event, which was funded in part by The Patterson Foundation, Baker discussed concepts such as aging in place, co-housing, shared housing, affinity housing, and many other new ways of living together at older ages that are meeting multiple needs - for economic savings (the old adage still applies- two or more can live more cheaply than one!) and lifestyle gains as well.

According to Baker, many people are seeking greater personal connections with others as they age representing both reciprocal interdependencies that inevitably occur by later ages (i.e. I can take you to the doctor today and you can pick up some groceries for me tomorrow) as well as the social camaraderie in shared interests that fill our days and purpose.

According to her travels across the nation, Baker said people are choosing to create living arrangements that are more aligned with their personal preferences as well as practical realities. Indeed, these growing options are safeguards against the isolation of remaining in a home in which one can neither function nor afford.

Meeting with housing thought leaders and hearing our residents’ preferences on housing and other areas of daily life will help us create the blueprint for our age-friendly future for all.

Click here to take the age-friendly survey. Click here to read more about the session from Barbara Peters-Smith, a reporter who covers aging for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Click here to see photos from the event with housing thought leaders.