The participation of older people in concepting and designing new housing facilities in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, there is a growing need for collective housing for older people to bridge the gap between ageing in place and institutional care facilities. The participation of older people in the concept and design stages is important to tune the market supply to the needs of (future) residents. However, social entrepreneurs find it challenging to involve older people. This chapter explores various ways older people can be involved in developing new housing initiatives. The ladder of citizen participation is used here to explore different roles that (future) residents could play with varying levels of influence, from non-participation to citizen power. Considerations for meaningful participation are discussed. Furthermore, a Dutch case study is presented, in which real estate was transformed based on the involvement of older people, which illustrates how by using an innovative method, partnerships could be formed between (future) residents and decision-makers. This chapter concludes that apart from housing itself, the built and outdoor environment should also be considered to improve the living conditions of older people.