Senior Cohousing

Dr. Sherry Cummings is a Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (UTCSW). She is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, a Past President of the Association of Gerontological Education in Social Work (AGESW), and a John A. Hartford Geriatric Social Work Scholar. Dr. Cummings’ area of research focuses on aging and mental health, in particular, older adults with depression, severe mental illness and alcohol misuse disorders. Her work has explored mental health issues and psychological well-being among older adults in multiple settings including assisted living facilities, public housing for older adults, and the general community. She has published over 50 articles and four books, and frequently presents her work at national and international conferences. Nancy P. Kropf is Dean of Perimeter College and a Professor at the School of Social Work, Georgia State University. Dr. Kropf’s main area of research is late life caregiving relationships, with a focus on older adults as care providers. She is the author or editor of ten books and ninety articles and chapters in related areas. She has served as the President of the Association of Gerontology Education – Social Work (AGE – SW), past editor of the Practice Forum for the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, and past Treasurer and (current) Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.

• Section 1:  Defining and Describing ICs.- Chapter 1:  What are Intentional Communities?.- Chapter 2: Setting the Framework.- Section 2: Comparing Intentional Communities in U.S..- Chapter 3:  The Mission Statement.- Chapter 4:  Resident Populations.- Chapter 5: Location and Design.- Chapter 6: Formation Process.- Chapter 7:  Management and Governance.- Section 3:  The Lived Experience: Voices of Members.- Chapter 8: Formation and Development of Community.- Chapter 9: Experiences of the OAIC Life.- Chapter 10:  Conclusion: Where to go from here.- Resources.

“Cohousing. A New Way Forward for Active Older Adults, is well suited for both the general population and range of professionals, from health and social service professionals to those working in policy, architecture, and community and organizational planning. … it should be a ‘must-read’ for gerontological social workers. … A strength of this book is the presentation of the realities of cohousing, including cost, conflict, and diversity issues.” (Marla Berg-Weger, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, January 16, 2020)