Study Group 1 Online Training Graphic
Common Gathering at Silver Sage Cohousing
SG1 Participant Guidebook
Village Hearth Group Celebrating their Project Being Built
Quimper Village Residents Gather at Common Path
Quimper Village Residents Small Gathering at One Resident's Front Porch
Study Group 1 Online Training Graphic
Common Gathering at Silver Sage Cohousing
SG1 Participant Guidebook
Village Hearth Group Celebrating their Project Being Built
Quimper Village Residents Gather at Common Path
Quimper Village Residents Small Gathering at One Resident's Front Porch

Aging Successfully, Study Group 1 Facilitator Training

$450.00 $550.00

Loneliness has become one of the most serious health risks older adults face — and senior cohousing is one of the most proven, community-built answers we have. It almost always starts with one trained facilitator. This course prepares you to be that person in your own town.

Now in its 21st year, Aging Successfully: Study Group 1 is a ten-week online training led by architect and cohousing pioneer Charles Durrett. Across ten weekly conversations, you'll gain the confidence, the method, and the network to guide a group of your neighbors from "someone should do this" to a real, resident-led community.

Course Dates: Wed, Oct 7, 2026 - Wed, Dec 9, 2026, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time

Become a key facilitator — inspiring and empowering seniors to:

  • Age in place successfully

  • Understand the economics of senior living choices

  • Take charge of co-care, co-healing, and outside assistance

  • Strengthen the bond between body and soul, individual and community

  • Appreciate the interlocking roles of community life and quality of life

  • Work effectively toward common goals

  • Create a meaningful living legacy that spans generations

In our experience, the more trained SG1 facilitators there are in one area, the more momentum and support each of them has. This training is about weaving a web of resources that everyone can draw on.

This training is for you if…

  • You'd like to see senior cohousing happen where you live — for yourself or your community

  • You're part of a forming group that needs a confident facilitator

  • You work in aging, housing, healthcare, or community development and want a proven method and a network

  • You want to help the people who cared for and built your town stay in your town

No prior cohousing experience required — just the willingness to facilitate change.

Loneliness has become one of the most serious health risks older adults face — and senior cohousing is one of the most proven, community-built answers we have. It almost always starts with one trained facilitator. This course prepares you to be that person in your own town.

Now in its 21st year, Aging Successfully: Study Group 1 is a ten-week online training led by architect and cohousing pioneer Charles Durrett. Across ten weekly conversations, you'll gain the confidence, the method, and the network to guide a group of your neighbors from "someone should do this" to a real, resident-led community.

Course Dates: Wed, Oct 7, 2026 - Wed, Dec 9, 2026, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time

Become a key facilitator — inspiring and empowering seniors to:

  • Age in place successfully

  • Understand the economics of senior living choices

  • Take charge of co-care, co-healing, and outside assistance

  • Strengthen the bond between body and soul, individual and community

  • Appreciate the interlocking roles of community life and quality of life

  • Work effectively toward common goals

  • Create a meaningful living legacy that spans generations

In our experience, the more trained SG1 facilitators there are in one area, the more momentum and support each of them has. This training is about weaving a web of resources that everyone can draw on.

This training is for you if…

  • You'd like to see senior cohousing happen where you live — for yourself or your community

  • You're part of a forming group that needs a confident facilitator

  • You work in aging, housing, healthcare, or community development and want a proven method and a network

  • You want to help the people who cared for and built your town stay in your town

No prior cohousing experience required — just the willingness to facilitate change.

What's included

Your registration includes:

  • The Study Group 1 Facilitator and Participant Guides (sent to you before the course begins)

  • Ten weekly, three-hour live sessions online, with group conversation and check-ins

  • Weekly prep materials — news articles, worksheets, and essays — sent before each meeting

  • Access to some of the most compelling case studies from The Cohousing Company

  • Personalized attention from cohousing expert Charles Durrett

  • A certificate on completion

  • Access to an ongoing facilitator network and promotional support to help you launch your own SG1 course

Course details

  • Dates: Wednesdays, Oct 7 – Dec 9, 2026 (ten sessions)

  • Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Pacific

  • Format: Online via Zoom

  • What you'll need: a computer with microphone, camera, and headset, plus a reliable internet connection

  • Cost: $450 early bird (through Sept 30) · $550 after · group discounts and scholarships available.

Testimonials

"I was very fortunate to participate in Study Group 1 and feel well equipped to train others in my area. The program helped me clarify what will work for me in retirement and to be proactive in pursuing healthy, productive senior years. I now live in Oak Creek Senior Cohousing in Stillwater, Oklahoma." — Sue Smith, SG1 Facilitator

"Without Study Group One, where the group learns to respect one another and make good decisions, achieving a successful project would be much more challenging. In my opinion, it is absolutely essential for a group to complete the Study Group One process before embarking on a cohousing project." — Jim Senka

FAQ

Do I need experience with cohousing to take this course?

No. SG1 is built to give you the foundation from the ground up. You bring the motivation; we provide the method.

Do I have to start a community after I finish?

While we always encourage you to do so, there's no obligation. Some participants take SG1 to decide whether senior cohousing is right for them; some use them to start organizing their neighborhood common gatherings; others use it to lead a new cohousing group right away. The training equips you either way.

How much time will it take each week?

Three hours for the live session, plus some reading and prep beforehand — the articles, worksheets, and essays we send in advance.

What if I have to miss a session?

No worries at all. Sessions are recorded and shared with registrants, so you can catch up any session that you miss.

Is financial help available?

Yes — we offer group discounts and a limited number of scholarships. Email Nadthachai at nadthachai.kong@cohousingco.com to ask about options.

Who leads the training?

Charles Durrett, AIA — architect, co-author of the book that introduced cohousing to the English-speaking world, and designer of dozens of cohousing communities across North America.

Click Register above to reserve your seat at the $450 early-bird rate before September 30.‍ ‍

Want to talk with someone who's taken SG1 first? We're happy to connect you. Questions? Email Nadthachai at nadthachai.kong@cohousingco.com or call 530-265-9980.