Barrier-free Rostock

The advice centre of "barrierefreies rostock e. V." is active in the planning and organization of apartment patronage for older people and handicapped persons since 1993.

Through introducing changes in bathrooms or creating barrier-free house entrances, existing apartments are adapted to the needs of the old and handicapped. Over the years a close co-operation with apartment co-operative societies and Rostock municipality has been successfully developed. The co-operation with research institutes and membership in the federal work community for apartment adaptation helps the centre always be informed of the latest developments in this field.

Older and handicapped people are often not capable of arranging the necessary adaptations of their apartments. Therefore, it is important that a qualified personnel is at their side with advice and help. The advice-seeking person directly or via the landlord contacts the advice centre of "barrierefreies rostock e. V." with his/her request. The staff will then examine the flat and give suggestions as to required changes to the landlord, including a financial scheme. A non-bureaucratic manner is preferred in collaboration with the tenants as long as all the problems are settled.

As demographic development in Germany shows, the number of older people in the overall population will increase considerably in the future. To enable people of age, as well as in case of illness, to remain in the familiar surrounding, it is absolutely required to have a barrier-free living space. A barrier-free living will be an essential quality characteristic of the housing market in the future and will determine the living satisfaction from the living conditions at a later age.

That is why "barrierefreies rostock e. V." gives advice before actual planning and constructing takes place. Owing to this technical advice, seminars, training sessions and excursions, especially planners, craftsmen and investors shall be made aware of and sensitive for the particular needs of old and handicapped people. And international exchanges play a significant role here as well.

Also, a significant progress has been made in the implementation of the barrier-free concept of the public urban transportation system. More and more low-floor buses go around the city to ease the disabled in the daily routines.