For three days, Berlin served as a field of analysis for the French delegation led by Dialog Health and the Fondation Médéric Alzheimer. The objective was to examine how the German capital is reshaping senior housing, care, and support. Site visits and institutional exchanges structured the exploration around four key themes.

This mission forms part of a wider series of international learning expeditions designed to compare ageing-related approaches and identify models that may be adapted and transferred within organisations and care systems.

A medico-social system under pressure, yet oriented towards innovation

The mission began with an introductory seminar at the Berlin Senate before moving into site visits.Sénat de Berlin.
Germany, where 90% of the population is covered by statutory health insurance, also relies on a well-structured long-term care insurance designed to support ageing in place.
Demographic trends, however, are accelerating: 3.5 million people are expected to be dependent by 2030, a turning point that requires a redefinition of medico-social services. It is within this context that alternative models—particularly shared-living arrangements—are emerging.

Shared-living arrangements: a model challenging the traditional nursing home

The visits to Matterhornstraße, Müllerstraße and several other Berlin shared apartments placed the delegation at the heart of a model that contrasts sharply with conventional long-term care facilities.
These shared-living units accommodate 6 to 12 residents, most of whom are living with Alzheimer’s disease, in an environment intentionally designed to feel like home:

• separate rental contracts and care contracts,
• home-cooked meals and cakes prepared on site,
• a warm sensory atmosphere (music, familiar scents, soft lighting),
• active participation in everyday household tasks.

This approach highlights a shift toward autonomy, personal rhythm, and domestic living—elements that increasingly define innovative responses to ageing and dependency in Germany.


The model also relies on shared governance, with families playing an active role, multicultural staff able to communicate in the residents’ languages, and full freedom of movement within the home and garden.
Several features were particularly noteworthy:

• highly personalised bedrooms,
• dynamic social interactions between different shared apartments,
• the possibility of long-term residence, including end-of-life support.

These shared-living arrangements embody a form of “supported home life”, where dignity, personal identity, and continuity of daily routines take precedence over institutional frameworks.

Integrated residential models: the example of the Schönholzer Heide Foundation

The visit to the Schönholzer Heide Foundation in the Pankow district illustrated another approach: that of integrated residential models.
This large complex brings together:

• 98 independent senior apartments,
• 6 Alzheimer shared-living units,
• a day-care centre,
• on-site services (hairdresser, physiotherapy, podiatry),
• and a park open to the surrounding neighbourhood.

The site reflects the spirit of a “senior campus”, where several levels of autonomy coexist within the same environment.
However, the team highlighted several points of attention:

• insufficiently differentiated cognitive landmarks,
• limited resident participation in shared meals,
• high monthly costs for residents.

This visit helped the delegation understand how a single location can combine autonomous living, moderate support, and more intensive care when required.

Solidarity as a foundation: the community-based approach of Volksolidarität

The final part of the mission was dedicated to meeting Volksolidarität, an organisation founded in 1945 and still highly active in eastern Germany.
It operates an extensive network that includes:

• Alzheimer shared-living units,
• 24/7 ambulatory care services,
• nursing homes,
• childcare facilities,
• and cultural programmes accessible to low-income populations.

The delegation observed several key elements:

• the possibility of supporting residents until the end of life,
• very close and continuous communication with families,
• active participation of residents in everyday activities,
• a rigorous evaluation system combining external inspections and internal audits.

Here, the emphasis is placed on community: volunteers, “trusted persons,” families, and professionals form an ecosystem centred on the individual. This model demonstrates how social solidarity and proximity-based support can reinforce both the quality of life of older adults and the continuity of their care.

Three pillars for understanding the German model
Across all visits, a clear triptych emerged:

1. A home-like approach. Recreating a domestic environment, reinforcing cognitive landmarks, and respecting individual rhythms.
2. The combination of autonomy and ambulatory care. Separate housing and care contracts, freedom to choose providers, and continuous professional presence.
3. Shared governance. A central role for families, legal guardians, volunteers, and local organisations.

Applied consistently, these three levers support the development of a diversified offer centred on quality of life.

This learning expedition provides valuable insight into models already well established in Germany.

Whether through Alzheimer shared-living units, integrated residential campuses, or community-based approaches, Berlin demonstrates that care can be imagined differently: more individualised, more flexible, and more human.