A group of Belgian researchers, consisting of Luise Stoisser, Tine Buffel, Ann Petermans and An Sofie Smetcoren, published an article on this topic in the academic journal European Journal of Ageing. The researchers write that the most important differentiating factor in the development of housing collectives aimed at older adults is the degree of resident involvement.
Community oriented versus community led
In community led projects, future residents themselves are the driving force behind the development of the homes and any associated care networks. Researchers define this as housing that is shaped and managed by a group representing the residents and or the wider community served by the housing. In such arrangements, residents often decide for themselves how the housing and care are designed and governed.
CollectieveKracht-member highlighted: Ebbingehof
Ebbingehof is a self governing housing community for people aged fifty and over. The building, completed in 2021, consists of forty larger and smaller rental apartments and was designed by the Japanese architect Moriko Kira. Ebbingehof is a living community. You live independently and freely, while also being connected to your neighbours.
In community oriented projects, a hybrid form is used in which building a community of residents is the goal, while other parties are also involved in the development and governance of the project. In some cases, organisations such as housing associations are themselves the initiators of such projects. The input of future residents is taken into account, but they do not make decisions independently.
Many projects apply a combination of these two approaches.
Conceptual framework: Resident involvement in community-based housing for older adults. Bron: Stoisser, L., Buffel, T., Petermans, A. et al. Community-based housing alternatives for older adults: towards a conceptual framework for resident involvement. Eur Journal of Ageing 22, 60 (2025)
Recommendations
Based on their conceptual framework, the authors make recommendations for the development of age friendly housing. Community led principles can help realise projects that are inclusive for all members of a community. At the same time, it is important to recognise that not everyone is able to initiate a project themselves. In such cases, a more community oriented approach can be valuable, or a combination of both principles. It is also possible to realise a project through a community oriented approach and subsequently transfer governance and management to the community itself.
Read the full paper