The free guide offers 120 pages of information, guidance, and services for senior citizens in Bremen and their families. Topics such as education, hobbies and travel, nutrition and health, finances, retirement planning, and long-term care benefits are supplemented by an annotated directory of housing options.
How older people and their relatives can get advice on various topics, how they can find suitable accommodation or adapt their own home to be senior-friendly, where there are opportunities for voluntary work or which sports activities keep them fit: This and much more information for older people and their relatives is offered on 120 pages in the new 2026/2027 edition of the free guide "Growing Older in Bremen".
The guide is published annually and contains eleven chapters covering topics such as education, hobbies and travel, nutrition and health, finances, retirement planning, and long-term care benefits. Due to high demand, "Growing Older in Bremen" is being published for the first time with a print run of 20,000 copies. It also includes information on the new home visits by professionals in Bremen. This service, offered by the Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Youth, and Integration, has been available since January and aims to help seniors remain independent and active for as long as possible.
Senator for Social Affairs Dr. Claudia Schilling: “Growing older brings many questions and challenges, but also opportunities to remain active and experience community. Bremen offers a wide variety of meeting places, counseling services, and housing options. No one has to be alone. With the new guide ‘Growing Older in Bremen,’ we want to provide senior citizens, as well as their relatives, with a reliable overview of support, leisure activities, and assistance services.”
Annotated directory of residences provides an overview
A key focus of the brochure is housing. It contains information about the diverse range of housing options and services. An annotated directory of residential facilities also provides an initial overview of existing care facilities and assisted living options. Özlem Ünsal, Senator for Construction, Mobility, and Urban Development, stated: “Our goal is to enable senior citizens in Bremen to actively participate in social life. To this end, we are creating accessible and affordable housing options in familiar surroundings and investing in easily accessible, barrier-free public transportation. We support senior citizen shared living arrangements because they prevent loneliness and facilitate access to care and support services. Together with all participating institutions, the Senate is committed to ensuring that self-determined living remains possible in old age.”
Information also for family members
"Growing Older in Bremen" is not only aimed at older Bremen residents themselves. Relatives will also find contact details for relevant people and information on topics such as care services, care providers, and care counseling. Senator for Health Claudia Bernhard: "The topic of care is increasingly coming into focus. Almost all of the approximately 40,000 people in need of care in the city of Bremen have several relatives who help them. Therefore, this brochure is a very important guide to the right addresses and contact persons. Good care requires advice. So I would like to encourage you: Don't hesitate to ask – there are many support options available, especially when it comes to care-related issues."
Where can I get the guide?
The guide is now available at many public locations, such as the town hall, local offices, service centers, community centers, care support centers, and city libraries. It can also be downloaded from the website of the Senator for Social Affairs. It is published jointly by the Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Youth and Integration, the Senator for Construction, Mobility and Urban Development, the Senator for Health, Women and Consumer Protection, the Senior Citizens' Representative Council of the City of Bremen, and the Senior Citizens' Office. Printing, distribution, and editorial work are the responsibility of Kellner Publishing, which also holds the copyright.
Source: Press Office of the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Press Release , March 30, 2026
