Dear all, we cordially invite you to discuss our draft position paper (see below) on affordable housing for older persons. We will start on Monday, 28.4.25 at 3 pm with this link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78464803088?pwd=elCJSaiOBYoH6RcHajeEcbHESh9HBG.1
Meeting ID: 784 6480 3088
ID code: 5Xjg5S
Draft: Position paper on affordable housing for older persons
More than one in five Europeans is over 65 years old, and the trend is rising. The group of very old people in particular is the fastest growing age group.
In old age, the radius of movement becomes smaller and mobility is often restricted. To enable seniors to remain living at home, they need an environment that is as barrier-free as possible. This is often not currently the case.
Statistics show that around 30% of all people over the age of 65 fall at least once a year, which often means moving into a care home. However, places in care homes are expensive, both for the state and for the residents. And most older people want to stay in their familiar neighbourhood.
Due to demographic change, we need many more small, affordable, barrier-free or low-barrier flats so that older people can move within their neighbourhood. That prevents the risk of social and psychological disrupture and disorientation.
And seniors are willing to move in their neighbourhood if they were given support – also if they live in flats that have become too big (and which families often urgently need).
We therefore need new support systems that make moving easy and possible. There must be exchange platforms that are not only available online, but also in analogue form. We need a housing pilot system that offers help with searching, sorting out and packing and can look for support.
Beyond that we need to focus more on non-profit housing construction and cooperative housing. And we need more offers for communal living: Shared flats, house shares, residential care communities, including for people with dementia. And multi-generational living, in which older people and families, healthy people and those in need of care, single parents and singles live together. Random encounters, sports and cultural programmes can also ensure more communication and interaction.
Older people need good local amenities with bus stops, green space, shops, nearby (senior-) clubs and benches against loneliness within walking distance for daily supplies. In such an environment, a neighbourhood office or a pilot structure could ensure caring communities in which people look out for each other and support each other – at any age and in any life situation.
In view of the long lifespan of residential buildings and the increased life expectancy of residents, the planning of new buildings must take better account of the life cycle of people in future. We need new minimum standards for barrier-free living in new buildings. This includes equipping buildings with an electrical installation that enables the installation of AAL (Ambient Assisted Living) systems. Free advice must be made available for AAL systems. All these aids enable independent living even in old age.
We need good minimum standards: Flats must be accessible, and there must be enough free space in the flat so that people in wheelchairs and with walkers can move around freely. If these standards are taken into account at the planning stage, the costs are kept within reasonable limits.
Barrier-free conversions in existing buildings must be subsidised and must not be prohibited by landlords or demanded to be removed after moving out. Appropriate counselling must be offered to seniors free of charge.
Since living standards within European countries vary vastly between member states, it may be necessary to add emergency strategies specifically for seniors of poor countries. All these points would also be a great advantage for all generations. We need societies that stick together and no generation conflicts.
Hamburg, 24.4.25, CMM
In accordance with Article 9 (1) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there is already a legal obligation to identify and remove obstacles and barriers to access in relation to residential buildings.
