Social Housing in Old Age programme

The “Soziales Wohnen im Alter” (Social Housing in Old Age) programme comprised the following components:

• Competition for ambient-assisted living
• Initiative to train tradespeople in providing age-appropriate, accessible housing
• Project funding: neighbourhood help schemes and social services

A wide range of stakeholders were involved – civil society, senior citizens’ organisations, the housing industry, the crafts and trades sector, and Länder (state) and municipal authorities. The programme has been a great success and continues to have an effect – innovations in housing technology, tradespeople who are well-trained and skilled, new neighbourhood help networks and support structures all benefit older people in both the short and longer term.