Co-housing is undoubtedly the way of the future when it comes to housing for seniors. In this regard, Cohabitat Village VITAL, a solidarity cooperative, has been offering a practical solution in rural areas for the past two years. Projects are currently underway in two¹ of the six MRCs in the Lanaudière region². The organization works in collaboration with local stakeholders, as well as with other private and public partners.

The goal of “Village VITAL” is to provide seniors with an innovative and sustainable housing option, aimed primarily at Baby Boomers³ for whom current housing options are unsuitable.

However, it has been proven that“The built environment influences the health and independence of older adults. Its various components—including housing, neighborhood design, and public and recreational spaces—contribute to healthy aging.”⁴

Thanks to its architectural design and operational structure, the cohabitat will encourage residents to maintain their independence, as they will want to remain active. The concept harmoniously blends private and community life, offering seniors a living environment that respects their individual and social needs within a community where mutual support is a top priority. All these factors help combat loneliness, a major health issue in Quebec and Canada⁵.

Whether in the Lanaudière region or elsewhere in Quebec, “Village VITAL” aims to expand, so that hundreds of seniors can live out the rest of their lives with dignity. Lanaudière has been its spearhead…

1 Matawinie and Joliette

2 The MRCs of Autray, Montcalm, and Des Moulins are currently under consideration.

3 A baby boomer is someone born between 1946 and 1966 (in 2026, they will be between 60 and 80 years old). Village VITAL welcomes people aged 55 and older to ensure a new generation takes over.

4 Sources: INSPQ https://www.inspq.qc.ca/sante-personnes-ainees

5 Sources: Statistics Canada “Nearly one in five Canadians aged 65 and older reported feeling lonely in 2021.”