Until you're ready

Probably the worst way to use our service is to rush through it.

Take the time to learn, to get all of your questions or concerns answered, to take a good look at yourself through each step. After all, sharing a home means sharing your life to at least some degree. Make sure you feel some confidence that this is the right kind of housing for you.

Whether you plan to find homemates to live with or you are a homeowner or leaseholder looking for homemates, everyone needs to do some downsizing before starting to live in shared housing arrangements.

I expect you have all heard people say that downsizing was the best thing they ever did or that they gained more than they lost.  But these sentiments mean little when you are facing the enormous task of choosing what you want to keep and what you will get rid of.

It’s natural to have some concerns or questions about sharing a home with others. So, we have pulled together the most common ones into this article.

We have offered suggestions because for most of these issues, there are no set answers. Each homemate group has to determine for themselves how they will manage these things.

It’s been said that flexibility is the single most important attribute needed for successful shared living. I think you will see why after you have read this article.

Women often say, “I’m an introvert, so shared living would never work for me.”

My response is usually, “Maybe yes, maybe no. It all depends on who you live with. So why don’t you look for other introverts or women who would respect your need for alone time?”

Almost everyone, introverted or not, wonders about having some private space and time in a shared living arrangements. Of course, a private bedroom is a must, but will that be enough?

One of the initial decisions you need to make is how many homemates you want to live with. There are a few things to consider before you firmly settle on a number, so let’s take a closer look at this issue.

You may be wondering how your beloved pet will fit into a shared living arrangement. Or if you don’t have a pet, you may be wondering how much care you will need to provide for a homemate’s pet.

(If living with pets is a deal breaker for you, seek out others who feel the same way.)

Shared living with a homeowner or leaseholder can be a very satisfying experience. Once you are certain about your compatibility, the relationship can often become a source of joy for both of you.

However, the option of renting space with a homeowner or leaseholder does come with some risks you should know about. To explain, first let’s look at the Residential Tenancies Act and how it governs landlords and tenants.

Shared living, for most of us, is a brand new way of life. You may remember the “Golden Girls” show and laughingly wonder if you are most like Blanche, Dorothy, Rose or Sophia. But then remind yourself that it was a sitcom and not real life.

As you move around the Senior Women Living Together site, you might sometimes feel excited by the prospect of living with others…….at other times, you might wonder if this life-style is right for you.

It’s normal to have some concerns when contemplating such a big change.

There are several definitions applicable to the word ‘community’ and they all mean something different from each other. Community is a group of people sharing an environment or characteristic or interest together, ie. in a village, or a group home, or a school or church. Everyone works separately but also with an eye toward common ground together, things one can do personally that might benefit others in some way, such as planting a beautiful garden or playing music that impacts on the emotions of others.

This article was written in 2020, so the statistical data is now outdated. However, the issues remain the same.

Senior women living alone are a significant proportion of the senior population. The 2011 Census of Population⁽¹⁾counted nearly 5 million people aged 65 and over, and 31.5% were senior women living alone.  In July 2019 ⁽²⁾, there were over 6.5 million seniors in Canada.  If the proportion of senior women living alone has remained the same (31.5%), then there are approximately 2 million of us in Canada today.