For the young at heart

Caritas flat share is looking for new flatmates aged 55+

Wilhelm Markom in his residential unit. He also has 140 square meters of communal space at his disposal.

(Bild: Zwefo)

Living alone is not for everyone. In Seestadt, there is a very special form of housing for the young at heart. 

If you are single or your partner has passed away, you usually live alone. But not everyone appreciates this, and many people feel lonely as a result. This is where the Caritas project "WG Melange" comes in. The concept is based on people in the third stage of life living together with like-minded people. Two years ago, the first and so far only shared flat opened in Seestadt.

The "Krone" visited the residents. Willi and Amparo live with another flatmate in a large, light-flooded apartment. Everyone has their own apartment. Some apartments are smaller, some larger. "I've taken the biggest apartment. I have everything I need here," says the sprightly 82-year-old. He pays around 1,000 euros a month for 47 square meters. That sounds a lot at first, but there are also 140 square meters of communal space.

Project manager Anna Winklehner with Willi and Amparo in the common room.

(Bild: Zwefo)

This includes a large lounge and a roof garden. "The spatial layout means that if you want company, there's someone there, but if you want some peace and quiet, you can retreat to your own four walls," explains project manager Anna Winklehner.

Fakten

Get to know each other in person on March 5 at 4 p.m., address: Barbara-Prammer-Allee 9/ Top 32, 1220 Vienna, registration at [e-mail] or 0676-639 26 07.

"I was longing for company"
"I have less time than my flatmate Willi because I'm still working, but I like to meet up with him for a cup of tea and take part in the excursions at the weekend," says Amparo. She came to Austria from Peru a year ago. When she heard about the shared flat, she was immediately taken with it. "I came alone and was longing for company," says the 55-year-old. Willi, on the other hand, didn't want to live alone after the death of his wife. Born in Floridsdorf, he is very happy with his current living situation. "There's everything in Seestadt and you can be in the city in 20 minutes on the subway," says the pensioner.

We would be delighted if a few more residents joined us. Anyone aged 55 and over is welcome here.

Anna Winklehner, Projektleiterin

Bild: Zwevo

But Willi and Amparo would welcome a little more company. At the moment, five of the eight apartments are still empty. Residents of WG Melange must be aged 55 or over and not require nursing care. Anyone who is now curious should drop by the shared flat on Tuesday at 4 pm for a personal information meeting.