Participation and subjective well-being of older women in cooperative housing in Spain

Objective: Cooperative housing has been linked to enhanced well-being, with growing interest in the grant-of-use (GOU) model, which emphasises collective ownership, shared daily life and the joint management of care. However, the specific benefits of GOU housing for older women remain underexplored. This study examines the relationship between older women’s involvement in GOU cooperative housing projects in Spain and their subjective well-being. Methods: This qualitative study explored the experiences of 10 older women involved in three GOU cooperative housing projects – two senior cooperatives and one intergenerational – in Madrid and Barcelona. Data were collected through two focus groups and two communicative daily life stories, with participants engaged in the cooperatives for periods ranging from 6 months to 10 years. The study focused on perceived benefits and barriers related to subjective well-being. Three core categories guided the analysis – community living, sovereignty in ageing and gendered ageism – along with two analytical dimensions – the transformative and the exclusionary. Results: Participants associated community living, greater autonomy in ageing, and reduced gendered ageism in their cooperative projects with improved well-being. They also highlighted challenges within GOU cooperative housing, including limited economic accessibility, governance difficulties and insufficient institutional support. Conclusions: Our study offers valuable insights for both theory and practice. Theoretically, it reinforces existing research on the health benefits of cooperative housing while addressing a key knowledge gap by integrating gender and age perspectives. Practically, it highlights the model’s potential and challenges, providing guidance for communities, professionals and policymakers striving for more inclusive and equitable ageing models.