Levensloopbestendige (Apartments for Life) in The Netherlands

The Netherlands is faced with an increasingly ageing population. This demographic change means that the number of people requiring assistance will also grow, increasing the burden on existing income, healthcare, social services and retirement systems. At the same time, there is growing evidence that traditional nursing homes negatively affect the mental wellbeing of elderly people. The Levensloopbestendige movement, known in English as Apartments for Life (A4L), offers one solution to this challenge. It was founded in 1995 to provide cost-efficient housing and care solutions to meet the physical and mental needs of the elderly. Its principal objective is to ensure the happiness and autonomy of its residents, and in this it has been largely successful. The number of A4L facilities in the Netherlands has grown since 1995, and other countries have also shown interest in adopting its care provision model.