As children move out and partners pass away, many older adults find their homes too large. For those not considering relocating, a senior shared living arrangement offers a solution. Heike Schenkhut is seeking a roommate to share her 180-square-meter home with a garden. Despite her efforts, including flyers to attract potential roommates, challenges arise as many seniors hesitate to share living space. With rising living costs and an increasing number of single elderly individuals, the demand for such arrangements is growing.
When children move out and a partner passes away, many older individuals find their homes too large. If relocating is not an option, a senior shared apartment could provide a viable alternative.
Establishing a shared living arrangement offers older adults a way to effectively utilize spacious homes while combating loneliness. Heike Schenkhut is currently working towards making this option a reality. Since her two children have left home and her husband unexpectedly passed away, she finds herself living alone and is in search of a housemate.
She has printed flyers with her name and phone number that read, ‘Roommate wanted for large house with garden.’ She plans to post these at her local bakery and post office in Weddel, situated in the Wolfenbüttel district.
Schenkhut is her maiden name; she prefers not to disclose her married name due to concerns about potentially attracting troublesome individuals. ‘I’m currently living entirely alone in this large house,’ she explains.
Aside from the population census, data is also available regarding housing sizes, heating types, and rent prices in Germany.
Previous Prospects Disappeared
For the past year, the 61-year-old has been looking for a housemate to move in with her. ‘I have a 180-square-meter house along with a garden and sauna,’ she shares. ‘My husband and I built this house together, and I can’t bear to sell it.’ However, maintaining it on her own for the long term isn’t feasible, and the workload associated with a garden home is starting to overwhelm her.
She has already had three serious inquiries: ‘One woman was an occupational therapist like me, and we got along very well,’ Schenkhut recalls. They met several times, but the move-in arrangements didn’t materialize. ‘I sense that many older people struggle with the idea of moving into a shared living situation and sharing responsibilities,’ she has noticed in her conversations.
‘As we age, we tend to have very specific expectations and are often unwilling to compromise,’ says Schenkhut. She has nearly divided her home into two separate living areas. ‘Each person would have two private rooms and their own bathroom,’ she explains, with the kitchen and living room to be shared.
With many retirees receiving under 1,000 euros in pensions, finding accommodations in major cities is challenging.
Growing Demand for Senior Shared Living Arrangements
There are no reliable statistics on the number of shared apartments for older adults. It is often unclear whether two individuals with different last names live as roommates or as partners. Nevertheless, the ‘Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe’ estimates there are about 2,000 self-organized senior shared apartments across Germany.
Currently, several online platforms, such as ‘Bring Together,’ exist for people to find compatible housemates. Indeed, the demand is rising. A Forsa survey indicates that 40% of individuals aged 45 and older envision spending their later years in a shared apartment.
At the beginning of the winter semester, students paying for a shared room averaged around 489 euros per month.
Kitchen and Bathroom Conflicts
Heiko Sieverling from Braunschweig is one such resident. Several years ago, the 61-year-old decided to move in with another couple alongside his own wife. He has no regrets about this choice and mentions, ‘It’s simply wonderful to come home and already have someone there.’ Multiple times, they enjoyed spontaneous evening chats over a drink at the kitchen counter after work.
However, Sieverling has also observed that the kitchen and bathroom are often sources of conflict. ‘People have different ideas about cleanliness and order,’ he notes. Therefore, he insists that everyone should have their own bathroom.
Heiko Sieverling is seen sitting on the sofa with a book.
Less Possessions Bring Freedom in Old Age
The two couples shared a home for 15 months. Following a separation and a severe illness, only the two men currently share a residence, and that arrangement is going smoothly, according to housemate Dirk Schlinkert. ‘It’s liberating to simplify and let go of belongings, learning to adapt with less in older age,’ Schlinkert comments, highlighting another benefit of living together. ‘When issues arise, it’s best to address them promptly rather than letting them fester.’
For instance, he suggested moving the cuckoo clock from the kitchen to the living room so Heiko wouldn’t be disturbed frequently in his room next to the