France explores intergenerational and specialized senior housing models

New residential models are emerging to address the needs of seniors and students through shared living arrangements. In some settings, seniors with Alzheimer's or related diseases are opting for specialized shared housing. These environments limit occupancy to approximately six to eight residents to maintain a domestic atmosphere, providing private rooms while sharing common areas like kitchens and gardens. These homes offer 24-hour human presence through life assistants to help with daily tasks, though they are designed as living spaces rather than fully medicalized institutions.

In the Val-d'Oise region of France, the senior residence group Domitys has implemented a program called ‘Générations Part'âges’. This initiative offers students free housing in T1 or T2 apartments in Argenteuil and Herblay-sur-Seine in exchange for 15 hours of weekly social animation. Students sign a work contract to provide activities such as board games, shared meals, or dance sessions for the elderly residents, aiming to foster intergenerational exchange and combat student financial precariousness.