Senior shared apartments

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Aging together

Flat-sharing communities are known as a form of housing for younger people during their training and studies. When older people set up shared apartments, it is less about financial savings than about the common fight against loneliness in old age. Other seniors want to try something new with like-minded people after they have finished their careers and parents.

The advantage of a shared apartment is that the residents can withdraw as they wish, but can also do something together. This ranges from excursions, attending concerts, to cooking and eating together, to doing housework, which can be done faster and better together.

In 2003 there were around 250 residential projects in Germany with a few 1,000 shared apartments, estimated the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe (KDA) in their first publication on residential concepts for old age.

Greater freedom

Most senior citizens have a greater need for privacy than young people. Senior shared apartments are therefore structured differently: They offer better opportunities to retreat, the individual living areas are more like self-contained apartments than the rooms in a student dorm. However, a new generation of senior citizens is maturing: Many of today's 50 to 60-year-olds already had shared apartment experiences as young people and are less likely to have reservations.

Compared to a retirement or nursing home, the residents of a shared apartment are much more free in their way of life. You do not have to adhere to fixed wake-up, eating or sleeping times and you can design your shared room yourself. They also bring their own furniture and think together about how they want to design the common rooms.

Long preparation

Senior citizens' shared apartments are not ready-made, such as old people's homes. The future residents have to plan a longer preparation time. First of all, suitable roommates must be found who will still harmonize with each other even after months and years.

If you have no co-founders in your circle of friends, you should first take a close look at potential candidates. One possibility are contact exchanges for senior citizens who offer district centers, senior citizens' associations and housing advice.

In any case, activity is required when senior citizens want to tackle the "WG" project. This applies to everything for shared apartments that organize themselves completely. There should be a spokesperson who has the main responsibility and who is the negotiating partner for others (e.g. landlords, architects, neighbors). Most of the flat share residents are relatively young retirees who still have enough energy and passion to get involved in the planning phase. You are preparing for a time when everything should run smoothly and the atmosphere is still right.

Tip: The Forum Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen e.V. (FGW) offers a contact exchange for those interested in shared apartments for senior citizens: www.fgw-ev.de

Plan for the need for care

It should also be borne in mind that you or a roommate could later be in need of care. In this case there are different solutions within the shared apartments. Before starting the flat share you should think about strategies together if one or more roommates are dependent on help around the clock. Mutual help could quickly reach its limits if all flat-share residents are about the same age and have a similar risk of being in need of care. For example, three people in need of care can hardly care for four people in need of care. An outpatient nursing service can be financed more cheaply if the nurse looks after several residents at the same time.

Assisted living communities are even better tailored to the needs of those in need of care. A permanent team of carers and housekeeping staff is part of the concept right from the start. Similar to nursing homes, there are assisted living communities that offer comprehensive care even for severe, care-intensive illnesses such as advanced dementia or bedridden. In most cases, however, these are not shared apartments that arise from the initiative of the residents, but rather institutions that are subject to the Home Act.

Self-organizing

First of all, it is important to find an affordable apartment that offers enough space and allows the desired room layout. The apartment is best located in a part of the city that future residents already know well.

A familiar environment makes it easier for the flat-share residents to leave their apartment later to go for a walk or go shopping and to take part in social and cultural life.

Once the right domicile has been selected, you may have to plan renovations. These should be completed before the new flat-share residents move in, because subsequent additions and conversions are usually cumbersome and time-consuming. For example, wide corridors and doors are important for residents who rely on a walker. All residents should participate in the development of the new living environment.

Culture of life and debate

If several residents live under one roof, even with a balanced mixture of personalities, things will not go off without small disputes. Representing one's own opinion, addressing grievances, settling misunderstandings and disputes promotes communication skills and keeps the soul young. Often the residents buy a cleaning help or a shopping service together right from the start, so as not to get into each other's hair because of annoying little things.

Overall, however, the positive exchange with new suggestions and impulses predominates for most of them. One finds an open ear for problems in the family, the other feels needed because he can listen and has useful tips ready.

Residential projects

In various cities there are already residential projects that you as a resident can join. Associations advise founders what to look out for when planning a residential project. This can be a shared apartment, but it can also be an entire house that senior citizens share. There are also projects in which young and old live under one roof. However, they exchange ideas more intensively than in a "normal" house community.

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