When it comes to housing options for seniors, sharing house with someone must be the most ideal since it is most likely to benefit seniors more than having them moved to a smaller place.

Having a housemate benefits seniors in two ways: it provides independence and companionship. Both are very important in a senior’s life. Aside from that, it gives you and your loved ones some peace of mind that if and when something happens to you, there would be someone who will notify them and look after you while waiting for them to arrive. Also, if you’re hesitant to downgrade your house just because it is costing you too much, finding—and keeping—a good housemate would be the most practical move for you. This is especially true for elderly women who thrive more with an ally!

However, it is not that easy to find a housemate, especially if you value your privacy too much or just got out of a bad marriage. Whether your reason is financial or you just need to have someone with you around the house, your best bet would be a friend or someone you really know instead of risking it with ads and strangers.

Moreover, there are organizations helping seniors to find their perfect match, if none of your friends is in dire need of housing yet. These organizations do background checks and other protective measures for both the homeowner and the potential housemate as well as making sure they will compliment each other well. There will also be interviews and house checks for matches just to make sure everything is going well between them.

To help you find a perfect match, keep in mind these tips:

•    Be honest enough to let your flaws be known. There is no use in hiding them as your housemate is most likely to find them in no time. Remember, this person will share your home, will be sleeping and living there so there is no better time to introduce yourself than now.
•    Knowing your limitations. And there should be! Drawing lines prior to matching is crucial since this will be the basis if the relationship will work.
•    Knowing when to negotiate. Relationships are all about give and take. If you are not willing to bend any of your rules then housesharing may not be for you after all.
•    Having realistic expectations. There is no such thing as a perfect housemate such that there is no perfect home owner as well. You just have to know what is acceptable for you and what is not.
•    Patience is a virtue. Expect it to be a long journey before you find a perfect match. That is understandable since not all seniors are willing to move out of their own homes and move to a stranger’s house.