Housing Single senior women often don't have the right apartment

For financial reasons, older single women often live in apartments that no longer meet their needs. However, the shortage of housing often prevents them from moving. According to a study, alternative housing models could be a solution.

The study "Single women of the baby boomer generation in a housing dilemma" looked at the housing and living situation of senior women in Switzerland. The Federal Office for Housing (BWO) published it on Tuesday.

Many women over the age of 65 who live alone have apartments that no longer meet their needs. However, it is often not possible for them to move to a smaller and age-appropriate apartment, the BWO wrote. Either the women have too little money to move or they cannot find anything suitable.

According to the study, improving the housing situation has a positive effect on well-being and social life. Women are advised to plan ahead and be open to alternative forms of housing such as shared flats - the study sees forms of housing with shared rooms as a solution for women.

The municipalities are recommended to maintain and expand the municipal real estate portfolio. Public-private partnerships should be promoted and financial support for housing cooperatives should be secured or even expanded.

The study was conducted by a university research consortium on behalf of the BWO and the Fondation Leenaards. According to the Federal Statistical Office, there were around 286,300 single women aged between 55 and 75 living in Switzerland in 2022, around a quarter of all women in this age group.

SDA