Prof. dr. H.M. Becker CEO Humanitas Foundation Rotterdam. International Seminar on Social and Health systems in Europe organized by SITRA. 7 - 8 September 2010

1. Happiness: It’s all about living one’s life part 1 Prof.dr. H.M. Becker CEO Humanitas Foundation Rotterdam Freedom of Choice 7– 8 September 2010 • Congress Paasitorni Festival Hall • Helsinki

2. Stichting Humanitas • housing • care • well-being • social services Almost 10.000 clients 33 establishments 3.300 employees (of which 36% of non Dutch origin) More than 1.500 volunteers Annual turnover: approx. € 130 million Current building projects: approx. € 200 million Freedom of Choice 7– 8 September 2010 • Congress Paasitorni Festival Hall • Helsinki

3. The beginning: ‘matchboxes on their sides’ in the outskirts

4. En route to something more daring and more urban En route to ‘age-proof’ dwellings ‘ Age-proof’ Apartments for Life

5. Own apartments with technical service • Empathic design (not institutional) • Sheltered ‘village square’ for the whole neighbourhood with: - restaurant / bar / fitness / beauty salon / supermarket / remembrance museum / • small art studio • In this way avoiding frequently changing location and new intakes • Varied occupancy: mix of ill /not ill, young/old, poor / rich, immigrant/local

6. Temples of culture and activities in stead of deathly ‘ islands of misery’ Attended and partly ran by independent elderly with and without disabilities Top restaurants emembrance museums Breeding ground for art

7. The elderly want to • remain independent and active • manage their own lives • participate and interact in society • be visited by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren They want to avoid • the feeling of standing alone, being deserted • to be forced moving house with new intakes • living with only disabled people

8. The Humanitas Philosophy is based on four basic values: • Autonomy; running one’s own life, also when it is difficult (with five cats, liking to have a drink every day, taking severe risks of falling) • To be active: use it or lose it • The extended family approach (when all stake holders contribute, this can add to the client’s happiness) • The yes-culture (not everything is possible, but we can always start with ‘yes’ and come to a solution in dialogue)

9. The instruments The yes-culture and and a luxurious and busy environment

10. The instruments Make it sociable and cosy

11. The instruments Empathic design and art (home made or bought)

12. The instruments Culture

13. The instruments For the very old and very young: Internet corners

14. The instruments A marketplace for conversation pieces from the past: Remembrance museums

15. A special kind of client: Alzheimer clients They need rhythm and activity, such as cleaning the vegetables, peeling the potatoes, cooking, doing the dishes and ironing

16. Alzheimer clients Alzheimer Clients need a warm, familiar, so ‘outdated’, environment. Reminiscence museums add something special