Creating aspirational environments seniors want to move to
BPD Woningfonds aims to meet the needs of communities in light of ageing demographics by prioritising the neighbourhood perspective.
Frans Merks, senior asset manager at BPD Woningfonds, tells Sylwia Ziemacka from the Senior Housing and Healthcare Association about his strategy to deal with increasing demand for senior housing.
How do you capitalise on trends related to ageing demographics?
BPD Woningfonds, established by Rabobank and BPD in 2019, is uniquely positioned to address the evolving needs of ageing demographics in the Netherlands. With a target of 15,000 homes by 2030, including 5,000 dedicated to seniors, our strategy is aligned with the demographic shifts towards an ageing population.
We work closely with BPD Development to ensure that our projects are neighbourhood-centric, emphasising the creation of supportive environments for seniors.
What’s your development strategy?
Our development strategy revolves around investing in senior living, catering to a spectrum of care needs, from independent living to those requiring substantial assistance. By prioritising the neighbourhood perspective, we aim to meet the diverse needs of communities in light of demographic changes.
We invest in individual homes and apartments with individual leases, with a priority for seniors requiring care, appointed by care institutions. Additionally, we engage in master leasing with care institutions for nursing homes.
Recognising the importance of independence for seniors, we also offer individual apartments and homes for lease, catering to those on waiting lists for nursing homes.
We believe in the importance of enabling seniors to live independently for as long as possible, fostering better health outcomes and quality of life.
How do you approach ESG considerations in your developments?
We place a strong emphasis on ESG principles in all our developments.
On the environmental front, we prioritise sustainability through the construction of new-build facilities that adhere to high energy efficiency and insulation standards.
On the social impact front, we recognise the importance of fostering vibrant communities within our projects, addressing issues like loneliness among older people by providing spaces and initiatives that promote social interaction and connectivity.
By fostering strategic partnerships and considering diverse societal needs, we aim to create inclusive, sustainable developments that enhance the quality of life for all residents. We believe that community plays a vital role in providing purpose and meaning in life, and we strive to create environments where residents can not only live comfortably, but also find fulfilment and connection within their neighbourhoods.
Our focus remains on creating vibrant communities within our developments, tailored to the evolving needs of seniors and the broader population.
How is the sector evolving?
We’ll probably be living another 20 years, on average, longer than previous generations. The 50 or 60-year-old is not actually considered a senior anymore. These are people who want to have a social life; they are probably still working or active professionally.
Age does not define you as a senior, as it was in the old way of thinking. Everybody is getting old, but nobody wants to be called old or senior.
At BPD, we have a competitive approach to this group. They know what they want. They have the capital and the time to do it. We have to attract them.
The most difficult thing is to create environments they want to move to: that’s why our projects are very aspirational and very good.
