From 12 to 17 October 2025, a delegation of 24 senior-care leaders from the United States—members of ISL (The Institute for Innovation, Strategy & Leadership), a network of thought-leaders transforming aging services—explored senior-care innovations in Amsterdam and Paris. As part of an international study mission organised by Dialog Health, the delegation examined how the Netherlands and France are reshaping the future of ageing through new models, environments and care philosophies.

The members of the delegation represented major American organisations such as HumanGood, Juniper Communities, Lifespace Communities, Institute on Aging, Senior Living, CDW Healthcare, Innovation Senior Living, and several other influential actors in the sector. This delegation included CEOs, founders, chief innovation officers, strategists, and senior executives committed to improving ageing services and discovering internationally transferable solutions.

The study mission began with the Dutch model of homelike dementia care. Members of the delegation observed how Het Gastenhuis creates small autonomous houses, each limited to 20 residents, designed to function like shared homes rather than institutions.
Key insights included:
• a warm, domestic architecture supporting orientation and comfort;
• 24/7 professional presence with stable caregiving teams;
• personalised routines that prioritise autonomy and emotional safety;
• intentional design that minimises stress and reinforces residents’ identity.

In Putten, the delegation visited a therapeutic farm ZorgErf where nature, animals, and outdoor activities form the core of care. This model illustrated the power of non-institutional, nature-based care for older adults with dementia or cognitive impairments. They discovered how this rural environment supports:
• cognitive and motor stimulation;
• reduction of anxiety and agitation;
• meaningful daily life through farm-based activities;
• an interdisciplinary team approach combining caregivers, therapists, and activity coordinators.

The delegation met representatives of the Dutch Federation of Care Farms, which supervises more than 900 farms offering support for older adults, people with disabilities, and vulnerable groups. They analysed:
• the national quality and certification system;
• governance models;
• how agricultural activities are integrated into personalised care plans;
• the role of community involvement in sustainable senior care.

Pennemes – Innovation, sustainability, and community-based senior living. Pennemes, awarded “Nursing Home of the Future,” showed how Dutch organisations integrate green innovations, sensory environments, and community engagement into senior living. Members of the delegation explored:
• memory gardens, therapeutic animals, and sensory design;
• eco-friendly technologies enhancing comfort and air quality;
• collaborations with volunteers and universities;
• evidence-based approaches linking sustainability and wellbeing.

In Paris, the delegation discovered Europe’s first ageing-innovation ecosystem - Silver Valley, bringing together 300+ start-ups, companies, researchers, and care providers. They analysed:
• co-innovation methods connecting public and private actors;
• promising ageing-tech start-ups;
• emerging solutions for autonomy, social connection, and digital transformation in senior care.

The Abbaye Residence presented an intergenerational model combining senior living with an on-site crèche.The delegation explored:
• how shared spaces stimulate interaction between children and older adults;
• the residence’s architectural choices and community programming;
• the positive impacts on identity, joy, and emotional wellbeing.

The mission concluded with a workshop at Enchanted Tools, a robotics company designing “emotionally engaging” robots. Members of the delegation examined:
• robotics applications in senior living, hospitality, and healthcare;
• the shift toward support for autonomy and daily-life assistance;
• how design, ergonomics, and emotional intelligence increase acceptance among older adults.

Key insights for the members of the delegation.

Across the Dutch and French visits, the delegation observed powerful shared principles:
1. Continuity of care. Seamless transitions between home, community services, long-term care, and hospital settings — without fragmentation.
2. Presence and human connection. Care models where relationship-based support, listening, and availability are as central as medical expertise.
3. Environments that heal. Bright architecture, open gardens, calm communal spaces, sensory cues — all contributing to orientation, safety, and wellbeing.
4. Autonomy as a core value. Rehabilitation, daily activities, decision-making, and personalised routines sustaining independence.
5. Innovation rooted in meaning. From care farms to robotics, from intergenerational hubs to eco-design — innovation is valued only when it improves life, not when it adds complexity.

For the members of the delegation, these approaches offer actionable insights to adapt within their own organisations and across the US senior-care sector.