Senior apartment
A senior citizen's apartment or old people's apartment (meanwhile a new term for this: " age-appropriate living ") is a self- contained rental or condominium with special equipment and special facilities for use by older people (possibly also by younger disabled people). In addition to the furnishings, the location also plays a role. Adequate care through domestic, nursing, social and health services to ensure independent living must be ensured locally. Retirement homes can also be offered in a retirement home or center for the elderly , often in the form of retirement apartments .
Structurally elderly or handicapped-friendly apartments must have barrier-free access, and adjacent traffic areas should also be accessible without steps. In multi-storey buildings, elevators are a basic requirement; there must be no thresholds or level differences within the apartments. The DIN 18025 standard is decisive for doors, possible ramps and elevator systems. There should be enough space in the sanitary facilities for holding and supporting devices, a floor-level tiled shower area is preferable to a bathtub or conventional shower . The size of the apartment is influenced by sufficient turning and parking space for rollators and wheelchairs . Often there is a balcony , bay window or winter garden .
In addition to an intercom , the equipment of senior citizens' apartments also includes emergency call systems ( house emergency call ) and smoke alarms . House cleaning and snow removal must be carried out commercially and a caretaker service must be offered. A good residential area for apartments for the elderly is given by the nearby shopping facilities, doctor's offices, a pharmacy and public transport stops.
Moving into senior housing is generally not tied to a specific age. There are privately financed and publicly subsidized apartments for the elderly. For the latter, there are standards established according to national guidelines. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, moving into subsidized housing is tied to the age of 60 in addition to certain income limits. The guidelines there provide for apartment sizes between 35 and 47 m² for single people and up to 62 m² for couples.
Particularly well-equipped residential complexes in preferred residential areas are often referred to as "senior citizens' residences" or similar. These residential complexes sometimes have a restaurant, sauna or swimming pool or offer additional services. Assisted living in senior housing or apartments is also possible .
Web links
- Information on the term old people's apartment from the city of Essen ( Memento from March 1, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
Individual evidence
- ↑ New forms of housing and care in the context of domestic law. Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth, accessed on November 29, 2018 .