NETHERLANDS

Alternative housing and personal services: exploring Dutch innovations

  • Netherlands
  • Aged care
  • 8 delegates
  • October 2024
From 1 to 3 October 2024, we organised a study mission, in partnership with FEDESAP, to discover innovative models of alternative housing and care for the elderly. A delegation of around ten members travelled to Amsterdam to learn about the latest Dutch innovations in these fields.
From 1 to 3 October 2024, we organized a study mission, in partnership with FEDESAP, to discover innovative models of alternative housing and care for the elderly. A delegation of around ten members travelled to Amsterdam to learn about the latest Dutch innovations in these fields.

The home and housing ecosystem in the Netherlands

Our study trip began with a masterclass on the organisation of housing and the home in the Netherlands by Ron Von Bloois, President of the Senior Housing & Healthcare Association (SHHA). This international platform, created in 2020, is dedicated to promoting impact investment in senior housing and healthcare. The association highlights best practice in the sector, particularly in the face of growing post-COVID demand.

De Makroon residence

One of the first visits took the delegation to the De Makroon residence, an innovative housing development in Amsterdam. This modern complex offers 189 homes, 134 of which are for the over-55s. Each flat is designed to encourage independent living while remaining connected to a caring and supportive community. This example highlights the importance of a secure environment that is adapted to the needs of its residents.

The Buurtzorg model: a revolution in home care

Buurtzorg Nederland, an innovative organisation founded in 2006 by Jos de Blok, has turned the paradigms of home care on their head. Buurtzorg means ‘care in the neighbourhood’, and the organisation aims to give power back to nurses by integrating them into autonomous, non-hierarchical teams. Each team, made up exclusively of qualified professionals, provides holistic care for patients. This model is based on human-centred care and the elimination of bureaucracy.

Focus on LVGO: shared living adapted to ageing

The mission also provided an opportunity to discover the LVGO organisation (Vereniging Gemeenschappelijk Wonen van Ouderen), a network of shared housing for the elderly. This concept enables residents to live in private flats while benefiting from communal areas where they can share and help each other. This collective housing model not only encourages the independence of the elderly, but also their involvement in a supportive community life, with rents adjusted according to income.

Green innovation and care at Pennemes

The Pennemes care centre in Zaandam is another outstanding example visited by the delegation. This complex combines assisted living and medico-social services, with a commitment to green innovation. By integrating nature into the care environment, Pennemes promotes the well-being of residents and staff alike.

Het Slotervaart: a revolutionary multifunctional complex

Our study mission ended with a visit to Het Slotervaart, a multifunctional complex located in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, which once housed the hospital of the same name. Today, it houses various healthcare providers, offices for social and medical organisations, and assisted living spaces. The site has been refurbished with sustainability in mind, with an A++ energy rating, and offers over 30,000 m² of office and clinical space available to rent.

The study mission highlighted innovative and inspiring models, illustrating how the Netherlands is rethinking housing and care for the elderly. These are all examples of international best practice in meeting the challenges of an ageing population.

The delegation was enriched by these exchanges and discoveries, paving the way for new prospects for housing in France and encouraging the sharing of expertise on innovation to benefit senior citizens.
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