The terms used to describe and organize residential groups, assisted living, or so-called “house communities” are often confusing for family members. In some cases, these are self-managed housing groups initiated by family members; in others, they are managed by the provider’s care service or a housing authority. Please check with the local authorities for more information. Please also note that there are often long waiting periods for these types of housing. If you’re interested, please have yourself added to the waiting list in a timely manner.

Assisted Living

This type of housing allows residents to live as independently as possible in their own apartment without sacrificing safety and services. Assisted living typically offers a barrier-free, senior-friendly apartment, basic services for a monthly flat fee (e.g., counseling, maintenance services, recreational activities), as well as optional services that can be used as needed and are billed only when used (e.g., meal or grocery delivery, in-home emergency call systems, apartment cleaning, and home health care). The scope of services offered can vary significantly from provider to provider. Also, not every provider accepts people with every level of care.

In general, assisted living is a good option for your family member as long as they are able, within certain limits, to manage their own household or at least remain in their apartment unsupervised. Assisted living is therefore not suitable for people with severe age-related confusion or dementia. When selecting a provider, make sure that the apartments have their own nursing care service or partner with one, and, if necessary, are affiliated with a nursing home. This way, you can ensure that your family member can continue to live there even if their care needs increase over time, allowing them to remain in their familiar surroundings without having to move again.

It is not possible to provide general information about the costs of assisted living, since not only do rental rates vary significantly from region to region, but so does the scope of services offered in each individual case. That is why it is advisable to obtain —or have someone obtain— several quotes from your region and compare them.

Shared Housing for Seniors (WGs)

In shared living arrangements, your family member will have a private room for their own use, sometimes with a private bathroom and toilet. In any case, the kitchen and living room are shared by all residents. Until now, this type of living arrangement—in which seniors support one another or jointly hire a care service—has mostly been organized privately. However, the number of shared living arrangements offered by nonprofit organizations is steadily increasing.

A shared living arrangement, also known as a “WG,” has the advantage that your family member can continue to live as independently as possible, yet isn’t as alone as they would be in their own apartment. The number of potential private volunteers is also generally higher here. The costs, on the other hand, are generally lower than the expenses associated with owning an apartment. However, if it is necessary to hire a home care service for a significant number of hours, the cost can often exceed the cost of living in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

If you, as a family member, would like to set up an outpatient assisted living group yourself, you must meet certain requirements to do so. If these requirements are met, an application for seed funding may be submitted. The requirements are described in more detail here by the Federal Ministry of Health.

Housing Solutions for People with Dementia

There are residential and group-living models that have been developed specifically for people with dementia. A staff member is always on hand there to provide support. The daily schedule, which includes a variety of activities, is tailored to the individual abilities of each resident. Often, a sheltered garden there also offers the opportunity to satisfy the desire for physical activity and to experience the changing seasons.

Multigenerational Homes

A multigenerational home is a form of housing—usually organized privately —in which young and old live together to support one another, learn from each other, and foster social connections. As a rule, all residents have their own apartments but share common areas to foster a sense of community. Currently, multigenerational homes are rarely equipped to provide comprehensive care for people in need of care. If you’re interested, you should find out exactly what services the multigenerational housing facilities in your region offer and consider whether those services can meet your family member’s care needs in the long term.

The Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth has a dedicated information page on multigenerational homes available here.