The community centers are intended to better integrate counseling, social interaction, care, community involvement, and neighborly support within the neighborhood. They are aimed in particular at older adults, people in need of support or care, family members, and neighbors who wish to learn more, share ideas, or get involved.

“With the opening of this third community center, it’s clear that we’re creating concrete solutions to demographic change in our neighborhoods—and not just on paper,” says Dr. Patricia Becher, Commissioner for Social Affairs. “Many people want to remain in their familiar homes and familiar surroundings even as they age. To do so, they need accessible places, reliable points of contact, and services that are well-coordinated.” 

In Klarenthal Nord, the initial focus is on social interaction, information, participation, and services related to aging. At the opening, the Johanniter, the “Independent Living in Old Age” counseling center, the Volksbildungswerk Klarenthal (VBW) with its courses and educational programs, “Digital im Alter” (Di@-Lotsen), the VdK Social Association of Hesse-Thuringia (VdK), the “Stricklieseln,” and other local stakeholders. A “wishes and ideas” wall gave residents and interested older adults the opportunity to share their own suggestions. The Klarenthal Nord Community Center is being developed in collaboration between the State Capital of Wiesbaden and the Nassauische Heimstätte, Wohnstadt (NHW) Group. NHW is contributing as a housing provider, while VBW is providing an important social component through its experience in education, community engagement, and community work. The Johanniter are involved, among other things, by offering a lunch program. The care component is currently still being developed.

“A community center must grow out of the neighborhood itself,” emphasizes Dr. Becher. “That’s why the involvement of local residents is so important. Their feedback shows what kind of support is needed, what services are missing, and how the community center can provide concrete help in everyday life.”

The practical benefits of consolidating these services are clear: Older adults or their family members should not have to go to great lengths to figure out which agency is responsible when they have questions about care, daily living assistance, counseling, loneliness, digital tools, or social activities. At the community center, they’ll find an accessible first point of contact. From there, appropriate services can be arranged, and the participating partners can be specifically connected with one another—such as counseling centers, care services, lunch programs, educational opportunities, digital support, or neighborly assistance.

The two locations that have already opened also demonstrate that the model is off to a good start. In the Dichterviertel/Rheingauviertel neighborhood, a community center was established on Wolfram-von-Eschenbach-Straße in collaboration with the Wiesbaden Housing Association (GWW). The focus there is on open senior services, digital inclusion, counseling, neighborhood support, and access to care services. Participants include Treffpunkt aktiv (the City of Wiesbaden’s open senior services), the counseling centers for independent living in old age, Leben und Wohnen im Alter (LuWiA), the Johanniter, and, for care services, the Robins Care nursing service. In addition, volunteers such as “Engagement Guides” and “Di@ Guides” are already contributing their time there.

In Schelmengraben, organizations working together include the Hessen Housing Association (GWH), the Wiesbaden Urban Development Corporation (SEG), the BauHaus Workshops Wiesbaden (BauHaus), the Caritas Senior Housing and Care Association (CAP), and the Johanniter. There, social work, counseling, care services, lunch programs, and community activities are integrated. Low-threshold services in particular—such as the lunch program—can strengthen social connections, share information, and help identify support needs at an early stage.

“Each location has its own circumstances and needs. That is precisely where the strength of the model lies,” says Dr. Becher. “It’s not about offering the same thing everywhere. What matters is that the right local partners work together and that the services are tailored to the people in the neighborhood.”

The project is based on a city council resolution passed in May 2023. Over the past two years, the specially created #Quartiershäuser team within the Office of Social Work, together with housing authorities, social service providers, care services, and other stakeholders, has identified suitable locations, analyzed needs, and established cooperative structures. With the signing of the joint memorandum of understanding on February 27, 2026, the implementation plan was further refined and set on a more binding course in collaboration with the participating housing associations.

The steps taken so far demonstrate why it is important to continue this model. The number of older adults is growing, family support networks are changing, and the need for care and counseling is increasing. At the same time, many people wish to remain in their own homes even when they need support. This is where the neighborhood centers come in: they make services more visible, provide guidance, and strengthen neighborhoods. During the three-year pilot phase, the locations will be evaluated in collaboration with the participating partners. The results will serve as the basis for a possible expansion of the model. Further information is available at wiesbaden.de/leben-in-wiesbaden/gesellschaft-soziales/sozialplanung/quartiershaeuser (opens in a new tab).