Senior Housing in Europe: Ageing with Dignity, Choice and Independence

Bergen, Norway | 4-6 November 2026

The European Seniors’ Union (ESU) is pleased to announce its Autumn Conference 2026, which will take place in Norway, from 4 to 6 November 2026.

Under the theme “A Strategic Framework for Future-Proof Housing Policies for Seniors”, the conference will bring together senior representatives, policymakers, municipalities, housing providers, care professionals, researchers and civil society leaders from across Europe to discuss a question that is still too often overlooked in the debate on ageing: where and how older people live.

By 2050, almost 30% of Europeans will be aged 65 or over. As Europe ages, rising housing costs, energy bills and homes that no longer suit later life are putting the independence and dignity of many older people at risk. The conference will provide a platform for open exchange and the sharing of good practice, with the aim of moving from diagnosis to practical solutions.

Housing Choices and the “Missing Middle”

The first thematic pillar will explore how Europe can close the gap between the family home and institutional care. Discussions will focus on:

• Accessible and affordable senior housing;
• Supported independent living and housing combined with flexible care;
• Community and intergenerational housing;
• The conversion of suitable existing or vacant buildings;
• Age-friendly neighbourhoods and shared community services.

Energy, Care and Affordability

The second thematic pillar will address the close links between housing, the energy transition and care services. Sessions will examine:

• Protecting older people from energy poverty under the principle “Renovate, but do not impoverish”;
• Financing and technical support for renovation on modest and fixed incomes;
• The integration of housing with home care, social services, transport and community infrastructure;
• Different national realities in Northern, Western, Southern and Eastern Europe.

Participants will hear from leading experts, housing providers and representatives of European and local institutions, including OBOS, Ghent University and the Wilfried Martens Centre.

A European Agenda for Senior Housing

Housing remains primarily a responsibility of Member States, regions and municipalities, but the European Union can play an important role through its policies on affordable housing, energy efficiency, social inclusion, cohesion and investment. The conference will explore where Europe should act and where national, regional and local authorities must take the lead, with a view to making senior housing a more visible part of the European agenda.

Good Practice and European Dialogue

The conference will welcome speakers from Norway and across Europe, including political leaders, academics, housing professionals and civil society representatives. Participants will take part in keynote addresses, panel discussions and structured exchanges of good practice.

A highlight of the programme will be the study visit to Helgetun, a community for senior living in Bergen, which shows how accessible, community-oriented and integrated housing can work in practice.

Strengthening the Voice of Older People

The conference aims to:

• Identify the conditions that make successful housing models affordable, sustainable and scalable;
• Develop recommendations for age-proofing European housing and investment policies;
• Promote community and intergenerational housing as a response to loneliness and isolation;
• Strengthen cooperation among senior organisations across Europe;
• Ensure that policies are developed with older people, not simply for them.

The outcomes will be presented in the ESU Bergen Declaration on Future-Proof Housing for Seniors, to be adopted by participants at the close of the conference.

The European Seniors’ Union looks forward to welcoming participants to Bergen for what promises to be a constructive and forward-looking European gathering.