Housing in later life: traditional and new housing options

How people live in later life depends on their wishes and needs, as well as their health situation. Many people like to stay in their familiar home. Furniture, pictures and other objects remind them of good times. They feel safe in their familiar surroundings. You can find out more about independent living in later life below.

Living alone in later life

Living alone: the advantages and disadvantages

Living alone in later life has many advantages:

• Everything stays in its place – you feel safe.
• The familiar surroundings make everyday life easier.
• You decide for yourself how your day will unfold.
• Neighbours, friends and family are often close by and easy to reach.
• You can retreat and enjoy privacy at any time.
• There are various day-to-day and nursing care services to support you if you need them.
• There’s no need to move, which is often expensive and takes a lot of energy.

But living alone can also be a challenge as not every home can be adapted to the changing needs of older people:

• Stairs and doorsteps increase the risk of falling. Narrow doors make everyday life more difficult, for example when you need a walker or wheelchair.
• Many homes are not easily adaptable. Home conversions to improve accessibility are often expensive and time-consuming and are not always possible.
• People who are less mobile are less likely to meet other people. Without regular contact, you may feel lonely.
• It may be a long way to the supermarket or the bus stop.

Living alone in later life: costs

The cost of living independently in older age varies depending on the type and location of your home. For a rented home, there are monthly rent and utilities to pay. These vary depending on the region and the size and features of your home. There’s no rent to pay if you own your apartment or house, but you need to pay for maintenance and repairs, and potentially mortgage interest. There may also be costs for domestic help, meal services or outpatient care. Medically prescribed diagnostic, counselling and nursing care services are usually covered by health insurance, minus an excess.

Retirement apartments

Do you want to live independently, but at the same time be part of a community? Then a retirement apartment is a good solution. This housing option is aimed at older people who need little help with day-to-day living. The apartments are accessible and often offer an emergency call service. They are often part of a larger housing estate and are located close to shops and transport links. This makes your day-to-day life easier – especially if you’re less mobile.

Retirement apartments: the advantages and disadvantages

Retirement apartments allow you to remain independent in later life. The advantages:

• Retirement apartments enable barrier-free living.
• Most of them are centrally located or well served by public transport.
• Thanks to the emergency call service, you are particularly safe in a retirement apartment.
• The apartments are usually part of a larger housing estate. This makes social contact easier.
• If necessary, you will receive support with daily activities or with care.
• Some retirement apartments are equipped with digital aids.

But even retirement apartments can present a challenge for some older people:

• You have to organise help with day-to-day life yourself.
• Places are limited and sometimes expensive.
• It is mostly older people who live on housing estates with retirement apartments. There is a lack of interaction with other generations.
• Despite contact with neighbours, you may still feel lonely.

Retirement apartments: costs

How much a retirement apartment costs per month varies depending on the location, facilities and provider. Additional services, such as an emergency call service or housekeeping and nursing support, may cost extra.

Assisted living

In addition to retirement apartments, assisted living is another option. Here, too, you live in your own apartment, which is usually part of a larger housing estate. Unlike a retirement apartment, however, assisted living offers you a wider range of services such as an on-site contact person, a laundry service, meal service and organised leisure activities. Basic services are often covered by the rental agreement, and you can flexibly book additional assistance such as domestic help, nursing care or participation in activities. Many of these services cost extra.

The transition from a retirement apartment to assisted living is seamless. Other terms for assisted living are “retirement apartments with organised services” or “(outpatient) living with support”.

Not everyone likes to live alone in later life. Some seek closeness to other people to share tasks, maintain regular contact and be active together. The following examples of communal housing options in later life show exactly how this works.

House-share for older people

A house-share for older adults brings people together under one roof. Each person has their own room. The kitchen, the living room and other rooms are shared. In a house-share for older people, no one is alone.

While residents in a house-share for older people share a home, others live in a housing community, where individuals sometimes even have their own apartment. There are also shared indoor and outdoor spaces. The majority of these shared-living arrangements are private, while some belong to an organisation. In both cases, the residents decide together how they want to organise their communal living and share tasks. Rental agreements for shared-living situations vary: either everyone signs together, or one person rents the home and then sub-lets individual rooms.

House-share for older people: the advantages and disadvantages

Living together means talking to each other, helping each other and seeing each other often. This has several advantages:

• Communal spaces promote contact.
• Everyone contributes. Mutual help often arises naturally.
• A house-share for older people is sociable, but it also allows for privacy.

Where several people live together, different wishes and needs collide. The possible disadvantages of a house-share for older people include:

• Compromises are often necessary. A house-share for older people therefore works better if the members are tolerant and open-minded.
• This housing option in later life is less suitable for people in need of care.
• The members organise the necessary day-to-day support themselves.
• Moving into a house-share means giving up most of your household goods.
• Not every home is barrier-free or can be easily converted into a barrier-free home.

Costs of a house-share for older people

In a house-share for older people, each person pays a share of the rent and utilities. How high the costs are depends on the size of the home, where it is located and how it is equipped. If someone needs additional help, they pay extra. In some house-shares for older people, residents share individual services. This reduces costs for everyone. For supervised house-shares, a monthly amount is added for the respective staff.

Multi-generational homes

In a multi-generational home, younger and older people live together under one roof. As a rule, each party has their own apartment. The garden, hallway and other communal areas are shared. Younger people go shopping or take on smaller jobs. In return, the older people cook, look after children or water the flowers, for example. A multi-generational home is suitable for you if you are looking for contact and are willing to get involved in day-to-day life.

An alternative model to the multi-generational home is the home-sharing scheme, where older people provide housing for younger people – often students. In return, they receive practical help with daily tasks. Money is of secondary importance.

Multi-generational homes: the advantages and disadvantages

When older and younger people live together, there are many advantages:

• The residents help and complement one another with their differing strengths.
• There are lots of spontaneous encounters in everyday life, so no one feels lonely.
• In an emergency, there are people nearby who can help or who can be easily reached. This makes older people in particular feel safe.
• For many older adults, intergenerational living is enriching.

In addition to the many advantages, a multi-generational home also has some potential disadvantages:

• Privacy is limited.
• It may be tiring to engage with many different people.
• This housing option is not suitable for people in need of round-the-clock care.
• In a multi-generational home, many different needs collide. This sometimes leads to disagreements or even arguments.

Living in a multi-generational home: costs

How much does it cost to live in a multi-generational home? The costs for this housing option vary depending on the location and the size of the home and the personal living space. Some homes belong to an organisation, which will impact on costs. In the home-sharing scheme, the parties involved agree on what and how much the younger person pays for the living space.

What other housing options are there for older people? In addition to private housing options in older age, there are also institutional facilities.

Retirement homes

A retirement home suits people who mostly live independently. The residents live in small apartments with a kitchen and bathroom. If they need help, they make use of individual services – for example, if they want to do their laundry or need someone to accompany them to the doctor. A nursing service can also drop by on request.

Retirement homes: the advantages and disadvantages

This housing option is popular with older people for a variety of reasons:

• They are free to organise their day as they wish.
• There are common areas where they meet other people.
• Anyone who wants to can take part in joint activities.
• Specialists provide support if needed.

However, this housing option also has disadvantages:

• This type of housing is not suitable for people who require a high level of round-the-clock nursing care.
• You mainly meet older people and may have less interaction with younger generations.

Costs of a retirement home

You pay a basic price for accommodation, meals, cleaning and common areas. Costs are higher if you make use of care or leisure activities. If you require nursing care, you incur additional costs. Medically prescribed diagnostic, counselling and nursing care services are usually covered by health insurance, minus an excess.

Care home

Are you finding it too difficult to live at home? Then a care home may be a suitable housing option for you. Here, you will usually live in a single room, and the staff will help you with shopping, cooking and laundry.

Care home: the advantages and disadvantages

Life in a care home has several advantages:

• The staff bring meals, wash laundry and clean the rooms.
• Residents eat together and talk to each other. This ensures social contact.
• Many facilities organise days out, games or celebrations.

However, a care home also some has disadvantages:

• If you like to live alone, you may quickly feel disturbed.
• Fixed times determine the daily routine.
• A care home is not the right housing option for people who require a high level of round-the-clock nursing care.

Costs of a care home

The cost of care homes consists of several parts. The facility charges a fixed amount for accommodation, meals, cleaning and laundry. There is also a charge for everyday assistance and leisure activities. You pay extra for hairdressers, personal care and the cafeteria. Additional costs are also incurred if you require nursing care. Many people rely on savings or supplementary insurance to finance their stay in a care home. Supplementary benefits and helplessness allowance cover any gaps. If that’s not enough, contributions towards uncovered costs help.

Nursing home

A nursing home is intended for people who require permanent intensive nursing care. Most of the residents here are older people who can no longer get up or eat without assistance. Carers look after you day and night, serve you meals and support you with every step of your life in a nursing home. Depending on the facility, you may live alone or share a room.

Nursing home: the advantages and disadvantages

A nursing home is a sensible housing option in later life for various reasons:

• Specialists provide comprehensive care for residents.
• Inpatient services are included.
• There are always other people around.
• Many nursing homes are located close to shops and medical practices.

However, there are also reasons why a nursing home may not be for you:

• You have less privacy.
• You have to follow a fixed daily schedule.
• The residents usually belong to similar age groups. There is often a lack of intergenerational contact.
• Admission to a nursing home is a big step and can be stressful at first.

Nursing home: costs

The costs for a nursing home consist of accommodation and meals, flat-rate care fees for additional assistance, individual nursing care costs and personal expenses. Your stay is financed by your own funds, helplessness allowance, supplementary benefits and contributions towards uncovered costs. What costs do health insurance companies cover? That depends on your (supplementary) insurance. If you are unsure, it’s best to speak to your health insurance company.

Residential care groups

Another housing option in later life is the residential care group. Here, seven to nine people in need of nursing care live together. They either have their own room or are accommodated in a multi-bed room. The daily routine is set, and trained carers look after residents around the clock. Residential care groups are often part of care homes or nursing homes.

Residential care groups: the advantages and disadvantages

Residential care groups are suitable for people in need of assistance and care. They have a number of advantages:

• Getting up, washing, getting dressed, eating – carers help with many tasks that residents can no longer manage on their own. Inpatient services are usually included.
• Specialists remain nearby and intervene if necessary.
• Since they live together in a group, residents often feel less lonely.
• Many groups are located close to public transport, shops and medical practices.

Residential care groups also have certain disadvantages:

• Privacy is limited – especially in a multi-bed room.
• Usually, only very old people live together in residential care groups. There is a general lack of interaction with younger generations, even though this can be enriching for many older people.
• Everyday life is often predetermined.

Residential care groups: costs

Care insurance covers part of the costs of nursing care if a doctor prescribes care and a specialist assesses the exact care needs. The facility settles this part directly with the insurance company. You pay the rest yourself – depending on your income, this may be with the help of supplementary benefits. In addition, there may be costs for accommodation, food and care. These vary depending on the facility. It’s best to ask the facility and your health insurance company.

Think early on about which housing option in later life would suit you best. Visit different places and talk to the people who live there. Listen to your gut instinct and pay attention to small details – in the end, what counts is where you personally feel at home. Plan ahead so that you have enough time to make decisions without pressure. This will allow you to actively shape your living situation in later life and make it exactly what you want it to be.