Community Housing for the Elderly as a Source of Social Support and Prevention of Social Exclusion

Since the end of the 1980s, the concept of community housing for the elderly has been established abroad. The advantages and disadvantages of this alternative housing for the aging generation are discussed in the context of various theoretical backgrounds and practical approaches. The aim of the article is to off er a  view of the advantages and disadvantages of this concept from the perspective of the inhabitants of these communities abroad. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with residents and one community housing manager in Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. The interviews were evaluated with the help of the Atlas.ti 7 program. On the part of the participants, community housing for seniors is evaluated mostly positively; according to their statements, the negatives result from problems related to socialisation within the community. The fi ndings obtained during the interviews are in line with other previously conducted research. They fulfi l the postulates about the advantages of community housing for seniors, and they also confi rm the disadvantages already formulated in the literature. Considering all the verbalised advantages and disadvantages of community housing for the elderly in conversations, this type of housing can also be a welcome alternative for a certain part of the senior population in the Czech Republic.


Introduction
In the Czech Republic, the number of people over the age of 65 is growing in all regions. According to the Czech Statistical Offi ce, the share of seniors in the population was 13.1% in 2001, in 2017 it was 19.2%, and the estimate for 2050 is 28.6%. 2 Th e increase in the population at this age in high-income countries is a consequence of an increase in life expectancy. Th e higher life expectancy is caused by a reduction in mortality. 3 Th is situation and its expected development bring a number of challenges. Both those who shape social policy and those to whom it is addressed respond to these challenges. New challenges and development opportunities arise, including diversity in experiencing old age, persistent social inequalities and stereotypes, and changing expectations. In summary, the overall context in which the aging population lives is changing. 4 One of the important issues associated with the aging generation is meeting the needs of housing -from independent housing (through inter-generational housing) to housing (or accommodation) in the context of the system of social or health care services. Housing conditions and the location represent a signifi cant factor in the quality of life of seniors as an important aspect of housing for the elderly population is its sustainability in the aging process. 5 Important elements of housing that take into account the needs of an aging population are accessibility in the physical sense of housing comfort and safety, support services including assistance in everyday instrumental needs and, last but not least, socialisation mediating the full spectrum of social interactions in life of the elderly. 6 An important concept that can be used to understand the issue of housing of the aging generation is the framework of 'housing pathways ' . 7 Th is concept, in comparison with the approach of 'housing career' or 'housing trajectory' , implies non-linearity of housing options more. It also involves the possibility of fi nding alternative ways of the living environment (housing) which enable one to experience meaningfulness and happiness in life. 8 One of these ways is also living within the community. Community as such and the feeling of community are other concepts that implicitly off er the possibility of a better life (this way of life is seen as better when compared to an isolated and lonely life, which is potentially related to individual living). 9

Community Housing for Seniors
One of the housing options for seniors is community housing which, in some countries, represents a possible alternative of housing for the aging generation (less known in the Czech Republic). In this way of living, people organise their lives together, sharing common spaces such as a kitchen, lounge, dining room, laundry, gym, bike shed, or garden. However, the individual apartments preserve the privacy of the inhabitants. Th e key to success is the social focus of co-housing, the enthusiasm and sense of the co-owners for the community, and a very positive attitude towards social interaction. 10 Th e issue of co-housing is closely related to the issue of power, respectively the fusion of control and care in modern institutions. 11 Th e authors work with the concept of caring architecture and controlling architecture. 12 According to these authors, it is clear that co-housing provides individualised care for the elderly where the privacy, autonomy, and dignity of clients are agreed. Th ere are clearly separated private spaces from public ones in a network of seniors' relationships. Co-housing off ers its seniors safe living in the community. According to a number of studies, 13 community housing is a factor in improving the quality of life of most of its inhabitants. Th is is through community activities, close social contacts evoking a sense of security, easy access to practical support, and the opportunity to participate in like-minded society. It is also important that life in community housing empowers older people, and makes old age better. 14 Studies show 15 that community housing for the elderly also has the potential for sustainable urban planning and it promotes social cohesion as well as the participation of future residents (owners in terms of private funding) in creating community housing projects (which oft en cannot be done without compromises). Th e idea of community housing was applied in Denmark in 1987 for the fi rst time. In this case, the Scandinavian model of inter-generational community housing was used as inspiration. 16 Th e idea of community housing for an aging population spread to other countries subsequently. In Europe, for example, it came to Finland, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Poland, and France. Overseas, it expanded in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries. Within the community housing of seniors, Th e Gerotranscendence Th eory of Aging 17 is used in addition to the abovementioned. It focuses on the level of overlap, the social level, and the personal (personality) level. Th ere, community housing has a fi gurative potential, for example, to reduce the fear of death, improve inter-generational connections, and increase self-acceptance and altruism. Rusovic and the team say that an advantage of community housing for seniors is the fact that it represents a solution for older people who do not want to live in institutions (such as residential social services) but who, at the same time, prefer the company of people of the same age. 18 Based on a longitudinal study, Glass gives some reasons leading to the long-term use of this type of housing. Th ey include establishing friendly relationships -the existence of friends in community housing, housing location, the aforementioned sense of community and mutual support, but also pride. Pride was associated, in one particular case, with the study participants who created the community. 19 On the contrary, among the reasons that led to the act of leaving the community (apart from death) were the need for health care and support (which was not possible in community housing), the desire to be closer to family, and fi nancial reasons (community housing can be both commercial and publicly supported). Another reason was the moment when the inhabitants of the community came to the conclusion that the community is not a suitable format of housing for them, and that life in the community was burdensome. Th e aim of this article is to provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of this type of housing on the basis of semi-structured interviews with residents and organisers of community housing for seniors in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. Th is should provide a basis for potential consideration and application of this type of housing and the creation of space for further research in the context of the Czech Republic. 10 2020

Research fi le
Th e research group consisted of representatives of residents of community housing for the elderly.
In total, approximately 50 community housing projects in Europe were addressed through electronic communication (based on an available database of these projects). 20 Seven communities agreed to participate in the research.

Participants and settings
A total of nine semi-structured interviews were conducted in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. Th e conversations took place face to face. We spoke to the inhabitant or caretaker of the building in the given community in the mentioned states. Th e basic characteristics of the participants are given in Table 1.

Methods
A qualitative research strategy, with a semi-structured interview technique with interview lengths from one to two hours, was used.

Interview scenario
In addition to questions about the advantages and disadvantages of community housing, the interview scenario included questions related to the factors of aging in community housing, to the perception of the philosophy of community housing, and questions assessing the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities of community housing (from the point of view of the participants).

Data processing
Th e obtained data were processed by the method of open, axial, and selective coding, then by using the partial method of pattern recognition and contrasting, in the program Atlas.ti 7. 21 Using open coding, basic codes were created. Th ese were then categorised within code families based on context. However, classical axial coding within categories was not suitable for data interpretation, so the process of fi nding relationships between quotations was performed during code visualisation. For this procedure, the data were used separately according to the individual facilities which were then interconnected. Only later was the axial coding of quotations and codes between each other performed. Aft er performing these axial coding steps for the individual areas, a subsequent re-coding was performed. During the latter, new codes were created specifying the meanings of the messages. Th ese codes were additionally axially coded as subcategories. Specifi cally, these were methods with elements of card layout, methods of pattern recognition, and contrasting.

Ethical aspects of work
Th e research project was discussed and approved for implementation by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice.

Results
Perceived benefi ts of community housing As advantages and strengths of community living, the participants speak of: mutual tolerance and respect; a wide range of free time activities; fi nancial operating costs sharing; modern living with an emphasis on social shared spaces; community life -joint decision-making, cooperation in the care of the house, garden; making life easier -cooking and shopping together, sharing some things -bicycles, lawn mowers, cars, garden tools, etc.; a group solution of possible problems; and prevention of loneliness. From the point of view of satisfying individual needs in community housing, the participants perceive feelings of security and friendship, and the opportunity to share their joys and sorrows with other people of similar age groups as essential. Other requirements that participants sometimes see as diffi cult to meet are: 'that residents must be willing to "work" on themselves, to participate in community work as there may be people who try to disrupt the community spirit. Th is is why we need constant readiness to discuss and solve problems. Th is can be stressful and frustrating sometimes. ' Th e issue of the diff erence in values was also mentioned: 'Too large diff erences in values can lead to confl icts. If someone moves and for some reason is not interested in the community, it can be a problem. '

Evaluation
Most of the answers contain positive experiences with community housing (co-housing). In particular, the participants emphasised mutual support, cooperation, sharing, the opportunity not to suff er from loneliness, tolerance, and respect for others. Th e participants presented the joint implementation of various activities in which they support each other. On the other hand, they sensitively perceive the need for privacy and respect. Th is includes attentiveness to the specifi c needs of each individual who has chosen to live in this type of housing. Mutual neighbourhood assistance and inter-generational solidarity are appreciated signifi cantly. Th e participants consider social interaction between the inhabitants and a lower risk of loneliness to be the most important strengths of this type of housing at senior age. On the other hand, they also mentioned perceived disadvantages and weaknesses connected to a certain loss of privacy or the need to constantly adapt to community life.

Discussion
Th e participants state that the advantages and strengths of community housing are the fulfi lment of the needs of quality housing, safety, interpersonal relationships, and life in a community of people with the same values and at the same stage of life. However, life within the community also brings them certain limitations which they perceive as problems and weaknesses. It is mainly a certain loss of anonymity, the need to participate in joint activities, and, in some cases, also problems concerning living with other members of the community. However, positive evaluations of community housing clearly outweigh the perceived disadvantages. Th e fi ndings obtained from the interviews are, in principle, in line with previous research, and fulfi l the postulates about the benefi ts of community housing for seniors (as stated in current professional literature). Regarding the benefi ts of community housing for the elderly, the results of the interviews are in line with the current fi ndings of Cummings and Kropf, 22 or with the older works of Jolanki and Vilkko. 23 Th e same disadvantages and weaknesses of community housing for seniors (which were mentioned by the respondents) are in the work of Glass. 24 Even though the positive evaluations of community housing for seniors predominate (both in interviews and in the available literature), it should be kept in mind that it is not possible to choose one best way of living for seniors in the future only. 25 Tummers also recommends that the individual needs of the senior and his family should be always taken into account. Also, the sustainability of the chosen way of cohabitation in old age, and the context of the environment should be considered. Th e model of community housing for seniors, as applied abroad, off ers a possible and interesting approach to housing for this age group. It is based on a shared vision and values that have the potential to meet a number of needs of seniors in the area of housing.
Co-housing appears to be more popular and sustainable than other forms of community housing. Th ese are not described or analysed in this article. Th e interviews were conducted in countries with somewhat diff erent historical and cultural traditions, as well as with diff erent funding models for the implementation of community housing projects for seniors. Some communities (where the interviews took place) were not exclusively for the elderly population. Some of them represented an inter-generational community housing. Th is fact may have aff ected the responses of some participants. For the possible use of foreign experience in our country, it is necessary to adapt foreign knowledge to our domestic conditions and the corresponding needs of seniors. Th e challenge is also the active involvement of seniors in the planning and implementation of a community housing project. Th ese matters make it suitable and attractive only for a certain part of the senior population. It is true that, due to its characteristics, this type of housing will be suitable and attractive for a part of the population of seniors only, both abroad and in our country. However, its eventual implementation will depend not only on the wishes of elderly citizens but also on the fi nancial availability of this alternative used for senior housing abroad. Th e presented article has some limitations. It is mainly the fact that the results of interviews with individual participants cannot be generalised (both in general and between the individual countries where the interviews took place). Th e interviews were collected at a given point in time, and the interview scenario did not explicitly include all possible relevant questions. Other limitations are also related to the chosen methods of analysis and presentation of results.

Conclusion
Community housing (co-housing) of seniors is one of the possible housing alternatives for this important social group. Th e benefi ts perceived by the survey participants include a sense of security, mutual support and cooperation, a wide range of activities, the opportunity to share space with people at the same stage of life who recognise similar values, and thus to prevent feelings of loneliness and social exclusion. Perceived disadvantages include the need to adapt, the loss of anonymity, diffi culties in interpersonal relationships, and the need to become used to life in the community. Considering all the advantages and disadvantages verbalised in the interviews, this type of housing can also be a welcome alternative for seniors in the Czech Republic. Further research should show interest in the given type of housing among current and future seniors in the Czech Republic.