[null, {"document_url": "https://www.rehacare.com/cgi-bin/md_rehacare/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Multifaceted_and_self-determined_Living_with_disabilities_and_in_old_age.html?oid=46134&lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t", "unformatted_src": "/cache/pica/7/7/2/9/3/5/1/274691501576007/daniela-buchholz-volle_breite-1471331356.jpg", "src": "https://www.rehacare.com/cache/pica/7/7/2/9/3/5/1/274691501576007/daniela-buchholz-volle_breite-1471331356.jpg", "formatted_filename": "daniela buchholz volle breite", "alt_text": "Photo: Members of an inclusive shared apartment with and without disabilities sitting at a big table and laughing with each other; Copyright: Daniela Buchholz"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.rehacare.com/cgi-bin/md_rehacare/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Multifaceted_and_self-determined_Living_with_disabilities_and_in_old_age.html?oid=46134&lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t", "unformatted_src": "/cache/pica/3/5/1/9/3/5/1/309711501508192/messe-duesseldorf-ctillmann-drittel_breite-1501507969.jpg", "src": "https://www.rehacare.com/cache/pica/3/5/1/9/3/5/1/309711501508192/messe-duesseldorf-ctillmann-drittel_breite-1501507969.jpg", "formatted_filename": "messe duesseldorf ctillmann drittel breite", "alt_text": "Photo: Franz M\u00fcntefering at the REHACARE Congress 2016; Copyright: Messe D\u00fcsseldorf / ctillmann"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.rehacare.com/cgi-bin/md_rehacare/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Multifaceted_and_self-determined_Living_with_disabilities_and_in_old_age.html?oid=46134&lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t", "unformatted_src": "/cache/pica/6/0/0/4/3/5/1/144301496140276/privat-plain-1496140090.jpg", "src": "https://www.rehacare.com/cache/pica/6/0/0/4/3/5/1/144301496140276/privat-plain-1496140090.jpg", "formatted_filename": "privat plain", "alt_text": "Photo: Nadine Lormis; Copyright: private"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.rehacare.com/cgi-bin/md_rehacare/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Multifaceted_and_self-determined_Living_with_disabilities_and_in_old_age.html?oid=46134&lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t", "unformatted_src": "/cache/pica/1/9/2/9/3/5/1/119771501578035/heike-guenther-halbe_breite-1499868600.jpg", "src": "https://www.rehacare.com/cache/pica/1/9/2/9/3/5/1/119771501578035/heike-guenther-halbe_breite-1499868600.jpg", "formatted_filename": "heike guenther halbe breite", "alt_text": "Photo: Man shoves a woman in a wheelchair; Copyright: Heike G\u00fcnther"}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.rehacare.com/cgi-bin/md_rehacare/lib/pub/tt.cgi/Multifaceted_and_self-determined_Living_with_disabilities_and_in_old_age.html?oid=46134&lang=2&ticket=g_u_e_s_t", "unformatted_src": "/cache/pica/7/9/2/9/3/5/1/162691501578281/wohnprojekt-bliss-halbe_breite-1499949555.jpg", "src": "https://www.rehacare.com/cache/pica/7/9/2/9/3/5/1/162691501578281/wohnprojekt-bliss-halbe_breite-1499949555.jpg", "formatted_filename": "wohnprojekt bliss halbe breite", "alt_text": "Photo: Members of the association on a construction area; Copyright: Wohnprojekt BliSS"}, null]
Multifaceted and self-determined? Living with disabilities and in old age -- REHACARE Trade Fair
Self-determined living Living in inclusive shared apartments can be a good alternative for people with and without disabilities; © Daniela Buchholz

Yet the reality often looks different, for example, when it comes to people with learning disabilities. "60 percent of adults with learning disabilities (so-called "intellectual disabilities") live with their parents," Tobias Polsfuß told us in an interview with REHACARE.com in 2016. He was shocked by this number. He has been living in an inclusive shared apartment in Munich for over four years now. Among other things, this inspired him to found the WOHN:SINN platform. It allows interested parties to get information about life in inclusive shared accommodations and enables them to specifically search for available units in Germany. Recently, Polsfuß‘ idea was also recognized with the Smart Hero Award.

Hamburg is counting on inclusive quarters

Presently, there is still a lack of actual representative and current data at the national level as it pertains to the general living situation of people with disabilities. Yet it’s clear that not all people with various types of disabilities are able to choose their living accommodations as freely as they would like.

That’s why there are more and more projects aimed at creating the right conditions to facilitate independent living. For example, Hamburg is currently building an entire housing complex with seven floors that will include accessible apartments – specifically tailored to the needs of blind people and those with visual impairments. But the BliSS housing project also ensures that sighted people are equally able and scheduled to live there.

Also located in Hamburg, the Q8 Initiative by the Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf (English: Protestant Foundation Alsterdorf) likewise tries to be an intermediary in several urban districts of Hamburg and support projects that promote the quarter’s development. "It is nearly impossible to create inclusive quarters using conventional urban planning. We want to try out alternatives. To do this, Q8 combines community-oriented approaches, community development and approaches of integrating inclusion into an overall strategy," says Armin Oertel, manager and community planner of Q8, in an interview with REHACARE.com.

Quarter development also a topic at REHACARE

Largely accessible quarters also give people the chance to live and remain in their familiar surroundings for as long as possible. This is why the REHACARE Congress "We for the Quarter" offers representatives from different fields the opportunity to exchange ideas and compare notes. This year’s focal topic is "Sustainability and Funding". Numerous experts also got together last year in Düsseldorf to discuss this subject.

"Experts have already acknowledged the living quarters approach as a sustainable concept," said Helmut Kneppe, Managing Director of the Board of Trustees German Senior Care (Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe), KdA, at the 2016 REHACARE Congress. "In light of demographic and social changes, we need living and care concepts that promote independent living in familiar surroundings and connect as many stakeholders in the care, assistance and medical care areas as possible." Franz Müntefering at the REHACARE Congress 2016; © Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann

Franz Müntefering, Chairman of the Federal Working Group of Senior Citizen Organizations (BAGSO), also talked about the opportunities the development of living quarters provide at the 2016 REHACARE Congress. He emphasized that accessible living accommodations are a very key issue in this context – because they will sooner or later become relevant for all of us. "Who provides information? Who organizes everything? These aspects are also a task for the quarter. It clearly makes sense that it is mostly the stakeholders who provide information and are the ones being consulted on these issues." Doors that are too narrow and showers not built at grade are aspects that require a systematic approach. Müntefering added that the responsibilities have to be clearly defined and determined – also in the quarters.

In addition, Müntefering underscored the importance of the future quarters not to turn into segregated areas. "It is crucial that society is also diverse in the individual quarters. All generations should live together. This is the only way to ensure the sustainability of a quarter." © private

Nadine Lormis
(translated by Elena O'Meara)

Read more editorials in Topic of the Month's August here: Click here for the interview with Q8 Click here for the article about BliSS

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