Multi-generation houses - large family project
Ingrid Müller is a chemist and medical journalist. She was editor-in-chief of for twelve years. Since March 2014 she has been working as a freelance journalist and author for, among others, Focus Gesundheit, the health portal ellviva.de, the publishing house living crossmedia and the health channel of rtv.de.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.
Scattered relatives
There are hardly any large families left and when they do, grandparents, uncles and aunts are often scattered across the country - if they exist at all. Working people have to be flexible and mobile, but want their children to be in good hands. Older people, on the other hand, often lack contact, address and a task. A normal togetherness and assistance in everyday life are nil. This also means that informal networks, everyday skills and educational knowledge are disappearing. The multi-generation houses are a project of the former family minister Ursula von der Leyen.
Meeting point of the generations
All generations under one roof, transferring the principle of the extended family to today's society with a few young and many old - this is the basic idea of the multi-generation houses. What is meant is less the common coexistence of people of different ages than the mutual give and take, which is why critics find the name a little misleading. The focus is on the cohesion of the generations through the exchange between young and old as well as the care and service offers for every age group.
Funding with millions
The nationwide action project for multi-generation houses was initiated by the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).
In the "Mehrgenerationenhäuser II" project, 450 houses received an annual grant of 40,000 euros over a period of three years (2012-2014).
Regional networks
The aim is to use the experience and potential of all people and generations - from young, old, singles, families, lay people or professional services. The togetherness and mutual support outside of the family are important.
Multi-generation houses are open meeting places where people of different ages come together. They help to promote children, advise families, develop commitment, give older people a new role and develop family-oriented, cross-generational services. This ranges from childcare to household and garden services to services for seniors.
Marketplace of Services
Every age has something to offer - knowledge, stories, thoughts, experiences or certain skills. The aim is to establish a local market for services that are affordable and that the local people really need. For example, the following could be part of a multigenerational house:
- Cafe / Bistro: The exchange of experiences and ideas over breakfast, lunch, cafe and cake - open to people of all ages.
- Exchange for services - offers on notice boards, Internet; manual help in the household or in the garden; Placement of domestic help, laundry service, flexible child care, day mothers and fathers, babysitters.
- Academy for young and old: Seniors are made fit on the PC, conversely, they convey their experiences on the job to the young people; Help for the right job or training; Gathering practical experience in the service sector, cooperation with local commercial enterprises provides insights into the professional world.
- Continuing professional development, finding a return to work after parental leave or starting your own business as a service provider.
- Night cafe: People suffering from dementia, who often cannot find peace at night, can meet there.
- Involvement of local business enterprises - offering or using services.
- Exchange of experiences between the multigenerational houses via the intranet platform, transfer also to other projects and initiatives.
According to the ministry, it is important that everyone pulls together. In order for the give and take to work and life to come into the house, the commitment of many volunteers is necessary. The initiators hope that the abolition of social separation could be achieved to a certain extent with the help of these houses.
Tags: womenshealth therapies gpp
