Living in old age: New concepts for a self-determined life!

Living in old age: New concepts for a self-determined life!

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, a dedicated event on the topic of “Housing and living environment in old age” will take place at Heidelberg University. The event is organized by the Network Aging Research (NAR) and is intended to shed light on important aspects of age-appropriate living space design. A central concern is to simultaneously find solutions to the challenges associated with demographic change. The program will particularly address the design of public spaces and the requirements for urban spaces for independent mobility in old age.

The speakers include renowned experts such as Prof. Dr. Frank Oswald, who talks about “Aging and space as a topic in ecological aging research”. Dr. Kathrin Foshag will focus on “Transdisciplinary ways to adapt to climate change in public spaces”. The lecture program is rounded off by Dr. Kerstin Conrad, who will speak about “Mobility in old age”. The lectures will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in lecture hall 13 at the New University and will be supplemented by a question and answer session. Simultaneous interpretation in German sign language is also offered for in-person participants.

Difficulties and solutions in the housing sector

The problem surrounding living in old age is becoming more and more pressing. Many seniors live in apartments that are not age-appropriate, such as high-rise buildings without an elevator or in houses with cramped bathrooms. This is shown by the study by livving.de, which now also leads the “Aging Strategy 2035” from Zurich. This strategy aims to enable older people to lead a self-determined life and, in addition to their own living space, also includes the design of the entire residential area.

Baby boomers, who often live in larger properties than subsequent generations, are often hesitant to switch to age-appropriate living arrangements. Emotional ties to their own home and rising rents prevent them from moving into smaller, barrier-free apartments. At the same time, affordable living space is becoming increasingly scarce in metropolitan areas. Almost two thirds of baby boomer tenants pay a rent of up to 750 euros, which means that rising energy prices pose a serious challenge.

The role of housing companies and new forms of housing

The challenges of living in old age not only affect those affected themselves, but also the housing industry. As the website of the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR) shows, many housing companies have not yet developed the necessary strategies to meet the growing needs of older people. A current study shows that quick rentals in high-demand housing markets are often the reason why age-appropriate living concepts are given priority.

Innovative ideas such as smart home technologies, telemedicine and digital assistance systems can help improve the quality of life of older people. In addition, social forms of housing such as shared apartments for the elderly, multi-generational houses and cluster housing projects represent promising alternatives. In order to take these developments into account, housing companies should revise their approach to tenants and create targeted offers for older people.

The SYNERGY between different fields of action is a crucial measure for improving the living situation of older people. However, a key challenge remains the provision of affordable housing, particularly for those on low incomes. Ultimately, a target group-oriented approach is necessary in order to meet the needs of the older generation and adapt offers accordingly.

The event on living space design and mobility in old age at the University of Heidelberg could serve as an initial spark to initiate the urgently needed discussion about suitable living concepts and solutions. It remains to be hoped that the insights gained from this event as well as the ongoing studies and strategies can bring about sustainable improvements in the living environment of older people.

For more information about the event and to register, please visit Website of the University of Heidelberg. Further details on the topic of age-appropriate living can also be found at livving.de and BBSR.