Lake Constance is in the heart of Europe bordered by Switzerland and the Alps to the south, Germany to the north and Austria to the east. The region is lined with lakeside retreats, beer-stein-size ferries taking mini-cars and visitors across the lake, fairy book castles, quaint villages with cobblestone pedestrian streets, vineyards and apple orchards. What most tourists who visit the area never see and what most locals take for granted is a groundbreaking community in the town of Eriskirch, Germany, where Haus St. Iris is, an “Altenpflegeheim” (old-persons caring village) operated by Stiftung Liebenau a European Catholic organization.

Once upon a time, seniors were set aside in nursing homes. Wouldn’t that be a story for boomers running the nursing-home industry to write?

Source: Opinion: Senior friendly communities not just in fairy tales. | Vancouver Sun