Old-age accommodation

For older people, the home is no longer a social retreat, but rather increasingly becomes the centre of one's life, particularly when mobility is reduced.
Surveys have shown that older people in Germany spend 80% or more of the day in their own homes. Perceived quality of life in old age is very strongly dependent on an appropriate accommodation situation that is adapted to the requirements of the individual.
If someone's own home no longer meets these requirements, and if home adaptation work cannot successfully redesign the home, moving to a senior apartment, accommodation with assistance service, or supported accommodation may be an alternative.
New forms of accommodation and residential communities with support have also become increasingly important in recent years.

Senior apartments, accommodation with assistance service, and supported accommodation are available with public subsidies or privately.
Under certain circumstances, you may receive a certificate of eligibility for public housing for a publicly supported home.

The accommodation advisory service of the City of Essen offers qualified and independent advice in all matters relating to accommodation adjustments. The objective of the advisory service is to support independent living for older, disabled or ill persons in their familiar home environment for as long as possible.

The accommodation advisory service is particularly targeted at persons with cognitive impairments (Alzheimer's/dementia). The fixtures and fittings of many homes no longer meet the needs of the persons living there, due to age, illness and disability. Even small changes often make it easier to live in a home.

In many cases, building work is necessary, e.g. converting a bathroom to be suitable for use by a disabled person. The accommodation advisory service offers individual advice in your home.

Information is provided about potential building work that could be performed, and assistance is also provided with the necessary formalities and financing.

An overview of the accommodation advisory service options, information on the accident risks in the household, step-free construction, and examples of aids for making everyday life easier, can all be found in the adjacent exhibition of the Essen accommodation advisory service.

It is also possible to place the exhibition in your rooms. Please get in touch.

Senior apartments are generally suitable for the needs of older people, in terms of certain structural criteria. Publicly subsidised senior apartments (built in 1998 and later) must be step-free within the apartment and the floor.

Independent living in your own home, combined with the option of taking advantage of services: these are the benefits of "supported accommodation". The term "supported accommodation" is neither standardised nor protected, and can be understood in different ways. The differences relate both to the organisational forms and to the quality, type and scope of the services provided. A typical feature of this form of accommodation is that a supervision contract is concluded in addition to the actual tenancy contract. This supervision contract covers the basic and optional services, and the associated costs.

On offer is a self-contained senior-friendly apartment. At the same time, it is ensured that support services can be accessed quickly if it becomes necessary. To what extent, and for how long, can be decided by the tenants, based on their requirements and their individual situation. The services can be anything from handyman and technical assistance, through housekeeping services, social support and personal advisory services, all the way up to care services.

Supported accommodation is likewise available either publicly subsidised or privately. Some supported senior apartments are also located in seniors' residential homes.

Alongside conventional senior apartments and the supported accommodation concept, Essen has for some time also seeing the establishment of increasingly ambulatory residential communities for persons assistance and care, or for persons experiencing cognitive changes associated with dementia.
In these ambulatory supported residential communities, the residents have their own separate room, and share communal areas such as the kitchen and bathroom with other residents. Support is guaranteed 24 hours a day, and the residents are involved in household activities as much as they are able and willing. The provision of care is ensured by a care service to the extent that it is required.