"New living" model project

More and more people want to remain within their own four walls when they get older, even if they require assistance and care. The German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) is helping to fulfill this need with the "New living - advice and cooperation for a better quality of life in old age" model project. This involves in particular cooperation with trade, home loan and savings associations, housing companies, welfare associations for the elderly and local authorities with the aim of creating a living environment within communities which reflects the needs of older generations.

The BMFSFJ is also sponsoring other projects to support independent lifestyles and new living arrangements. For example, the "Initiative for independent living in the community" (IgeL) project which is dedicated to helping both young and old live together within the community by means of active neighborhood assistance. It is designed in particular to counterbalance the loneliness and isolation experienced in old age and to promote a cross-generational exchange of the experiences of the older generation with assistance from the younger generation.

A further Ministry campaign project concerns what are known as "multigenerational houses" which act as a daily meeting place for all generations, where services are provided or arranged, e.g. childcare, assistance for the elderly, household and garden services as well as family counseling and education for the elderly.

Information on these and other projects can be found at
www.bmfsfj.de
www.modellprogramm-wohnen.de
www.baumodelle-bmfsfj.de
www.wirtschaftskraft-alter.de