The population of the Netherlands is ageing. The number of people above 65 is expected to grow from 3.1 million in 2017 to 4.8 million in 2040. The increasing ageing population results in more elderly in need of care and a lower percentage of young people able to provide formal care. The classical welfare state seems to gradually change to a ‘participatiesamenleving’, a society in which people initially take the responsibility for themselves. Elderly live independently as long as possible instead of living in an intramural setting. When they are not able to take care of themselves, they can appeal to their social network for more support. Formal care will be additional to the informal care. The participation of the social network is therefore important, not only to handle the shortage of formal care, but also to give people the possibility to live their own, trusted life. The research provides insight into the importance of the relationship between architecture and the provision of informal care to elderly in need of care, which is an increasingly important issue. Architectural tools that fulfil the needs of the informal caregivers can be used by architects while designing environments that stimulate informal care provided by people of the social network of elderly in need of care.
'Het Verticale Hof' is an example of such and environment. It is a housing project with public functions on the ground floor. It is an environment for residents, informal caregivers, the community and professional caregivers and will stimulate informal care.