Barrier-free living: Lecture for seniors in Ahaus on November 5th!

Barrier-free living: Lecture for seniors in Ahaus on November 5th!

An exciting lecture for the older generation will be offered in Ahaus, which will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in the foyer of the Ahaus town hall. The organizers are Sybille Großmann from the city of Ahaus and Jutta Schulte from the volunteer agency. Admission to this event is free and registration is not required. The focus of the lecture is on creating a pleasant living atmosphere and adapting the living environment to the individual needs of older people.

Birgit Lorenzen will speak as a speaker about important topics that are important to many of us. Their motto is: “Living safely and comfortably at home without barriers”. Questions regarding the financing of necessary measures to create a barrier-free living environment will be discussed. The importance of prevention, particularly early measures to reduce barriers, is also highlighted in order to maintain independence in old age.

Barrier-free living as the key to independence

A barrier-free living environment plays an important role for older people and people with disabilities. According to an article on adac.de, such an environment makes it possible to lead a self-determined life. But what exactly does it mean to live barrier-free? The DIN standard 18040 describes precise criteria that define accessibility that is not automatically wheelchair accessible. This includes, for example, that bathrooms should be equipped with floor-level showers and sturdy grab bars, and that sufficient range of motion must be provided.

The requirements for doors and living spaces are just as clear. A door width of at least 80 cm and movement areas of at least 1.20 m x 1.20 m are essential to make life easier. It is also advisable to pay attention to non-slip and contrasting floor coverings in order to minimize the risk of accidents. Unfortunately, the costs for the renovation can rise to around 19,000 euros, although promotional loans from the KfW Bank or grants from the nursing care fund can be helpful.

An important place for information and exchange

The initiative to offer this information event shows that Ahaus has a good hand when it comes to the needs of the older generation. Here everyone can ask questions about barrier-free living and find out about practical solutions that can improve everyday life. Of course, the event is not only interesting for those affected; Relatives and interested parties are also warmly invited.

The challenges of aging at home must be taken seriously, and events like these make a valuable contribution to educating people and improving quality of life. At a time when the topic of age-appropriateness is becoming more and more present, it is important to speak openly about your own needs and possibilities and to get information and advice from experts like Birgit Lorenzen. We are all invited to actively participate in creating a more livable environment.