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Lohr in transition: This is how the senior citizen boom is changing the housing options!
Find out how demographic change in Main-Spessart and Lohr influences housing needs and senior policy.
Lohr in transition: This is how the senior citizen boom is changing the housing options!
The demographic development in Lohr, a district of Sendelbach, raises questions that not only affect the quality of life of the residents, but also the housing market as a whole. Currently one in six residents of Sendelbach is over 75 years old and that has its effects. While Steinbach and Rodenbach only make up a tenth of this, it is clear that the realities of life in the different parts of the city vary greatly. Another striking detail is that the Halsbach district has the fewest children under the age of three, while Pflochsbach has established itself as a meeting place for the youngest.
In view of this development, the city of Lohr has set itself important goals. Annual age group statistics are compiled that analyze demographic change and the corresponding housing needs. There are over 4,200 residential spaces (i.e. houses, not apartments) available in the city, of which around 20 percent - i.e. 839 - are inhabited by single residents over 65. This number has increased by 43 since 2015. The increase in single seniors in Sackenbach, Wombach and Rodenbach is particularly noticeable. In Wombach, around 85 of these single seniors live in a total of around 550 residential areas.
Creating space for younger generations
The head of the city, Mayor Mario Paul, notes how important it is to expand senior-friendly housing options. Seniors tend to move into smaller apartments, which creates space for young families - a not unimportant aspect in today's housing situation. Nevertheless, new building areas in Lohr are difficult to realize due to the limited space and demographic change. A committed expansion of existing housing options and incentives for the development of senior-friendly apartments are crucial.
The needs of older people are not only a focus in Lohr. A study funded by the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR) shows that the housing industry across Germany is required to provide affordable and age-appropriate living space for the growing number of older people. Companies often have not developed adequate strategies for senior living because they can quickly rent out properties in popular markets. The study authors therefore call for better awareness, suitable offers and targeted marketing for this target group in order to meet the increasing need for housing.
The challenges of the housing market
Demographic change fundamentally influences the real estate market in Germany. Almost one in five citizens is already over 65 years old, and by 2040 the proportion of people over 67 will rise to almost 30 percent. At a time when around 40 percent of households consist of singles, the demand for small, flexible apartments is growing. But the reality is bleak: the availability of barrier-free housing options is ubiquitous at only around 2 percent. Two million additional barrier-free apartments will be needed by 2030 to meet future needs.
Even though micro-apartments and co-living concepts are on the rise, the housing market is faced with the challenge of examining old structures and adapting them to the needs of future residents. Innovative solutions and sustainable construction methods must become the norm in order to actively exploit the market's potential while reducing sustainable environmental impacts. A targeted approach not only makes sense, but is also necessary for the future quality of life of older people.
Overall, it is clear that the renovation and adaptation of the existing residential landscape in Lohr and beyond is essential in order to meet the challenges of demographic change. In a society that is getting older and older, it is up to us to take the right steps and set the course for a more livable environment for all generations.