Nothing is impossible

Just stop saying no! Dr Hans Becker, CEO of the Humanitas Foundation is in Sydney to explain what the Apartments for Life concept really means

By Keryn Curtis

Above: Dr Hans Becker in Sydney this morning

The Humanitas Foundation’s CEO, Dr Hans Becker, is visiting Australia from the Netherlands, to discuss details and answer questions about the renowned Apartments for Life concept in Rotterdam. 

Dr Becker will be participating in a day-long workshop tomorrow at Sydney’s Masonic Centre where 200 participants from across Australia will have the opportunity to explore not only the principles and philosophy of the Apartments for Life model but also to investigate and discuss the practical aspects of design, delivery and funding.    

In Australian aged care circles, the Humanitas foundation in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and its ‘Apartments for Life’ model of housing and lifestyle is often regarded with quiet reverence.

Scores of aged care providers, researchers, government bureaucrats, housing experts and architects alike have made the pilgrimage to Rotterdam in the last decade and few have returned with anything but praise for the model of seniors housing and care which puts human happiness at the centre of its mission. 

The colourful Dr Hans Becker is integral to the Humanitas Apartments for Life philosophy – and to any study tour or visit – which helps to explain the popularity of the workshop.

Yet, despite its high profile and the keen interest in the Humanitas model, Australia is yet to see the Apartments for Life concept fully realised in this country. The Benevolent Society, under the patient stewardship of General Manager of Ageing, Barbara Squires, is inching closer to its much discussed Apartments for Life Ocean Street development in Sydney’s Bondi Junction.  Several organisations have flirted with elements of the model – such as designing atriums and including a café or restaurant and other services – without taking on the philosophical approach.

The popular adoption of particular elements of the Apartments for Life concept as a kind of marketing strategy concerns Dr Becker.

“In the US, there are many examples of beautiful buildings with many wonderful facilities and they might look the same, but they are not.  The residents will all be well off, there will be a separation between the well and the sick.

“In the Humanitas model there is a mix of rich and not rich, of ill and not ill, of heterosexual and homosexual – it is an important mix,” he said.

“Often, people will say, oh well that wouldn’t work for us here, people don’t like things that way or it is different in Holland.  And that gives them an excuse not to do it.  But people are the same everywhere in the important sense, regardless of the insurance system or the economic environment.”

As Australia faces a new and challenging future aged care landscape, new housing and support service options that can meet evolving consumer demand, are becoming increasingly important and strategic.  The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) has published some recent papers and held a number of seminars on the housing challenges for older Australians, reports that have influenced the Productivity Commission’s draft report on Caring for Older Australians.

Dr Becker is aware of the PC report though not intimate with the details.  However he warns that too great an emphasis on a ‘bottom up’ approach – where the consumer has total choice and influence in design and delivery of services – is just as bad as a ‘top down’ approach.

“We have 10,000 people on our waiting list at Humanitas but few of them and our current residents would have designed and chosen all those elements and the philosophy they now enjoy.  There needs to be a balance,” he said.

“The bricks and mortar are important but it is the philosophy and the atmosphere and positivity that are essential.  It is the culture of always saying yes as a first response. 

Not everything is going to be possible but the first response should be an acknowledgement that what someone wants is OK.  Yes, let’s see what we can do,” he said.

As an Apartments for Life resident of six years himself, the 69 year old Dr Becker believes in walking the talk.

Dr Hans Becker will be conducting a workshop all day tomorrow at Sydney Masonic Centre.  Some places are still available. All delegates will receive a copy of Dr Becker’s new book, Hands Off Not an Option.  Click here for details.

Dr Hans Becker pioneered by the Humanitas concept in the mid 1990s. From 350 apartments in three complexes in 1995, the organisation has expanded to 15 complexes comprising 1,700 apartments and some 2,550 residents. In addition to being CEO of the Humanitas Foundation, he is the driving force behind Apartments for Life. He is also a Professor of Humanising of Care at Utrecht University and an Instructor in Executive Education at Harvard University.

Tags: aged-care, ahuri, apartments-for-life, barbara-squires, benevolent-society, caring-for-older-australians, dr-hans-becker, humanitas, humanitas-foundation, productivity-commission, sydney-masonic-centre,

1 thought on “Nothing is impossible

  1. I have long heard of this man and his achievements and I guess as one who is always striving to put the wellbeing and care of our residents ahead of ideas that may not mean anything to those who live with us and with whom we share their lives and stories I can only say thank goodness for humility and commonsense. Like Dr Hans I was taken by the PC comment when I first read it and their concept of total resident choice which I suppose is everyones right during life but it is interesting that my thoughts were similar to his as I failed to see how that principle could be achieved outside of the major cities like Sydney and Melbourne due to availablilty. In my regional city what is important is to make sure that people have a chance to share in the service we provide and then to ensure they continue to live their life to the fullest that it can be in a secure and caring environment. Most of us live a reasonably ordinary life, uncomplicated as much as possible and some do extroadinary things but in the end, my residents tell me they enjoy being part of an environment that allows them dignity and compassion and they dont care too much for total choice just a fair go at continuing to realise their needs until it is time for them to leave.
    Such simplicity seems to be embodied in the work of Dr Hans and I wish I had the opportunity to know him but I guess I will just have to buy his book and read it.

Leave a Reply