The offerings range from one-on-one consultations during opening hours to group tours, events, and training sessions. The exhibition showcases practical solutions for entryways, staircases, living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.

“We want people to be able to live independently in their familiar surroundings for as long as possible—regardless of their age, disability, or need for care. The Belle Wi model home makes an important contribution to this by showcasing practical, everyday solutions and offering expert advice,” emphasized Andreas Kowol, Head of Social Affairs, at the anniversary celebration.

In addition to looking back on ten years of Belle Wi, the anniversary event focused on current challenges and developments related to accessible living. In short keynote presentations followed by a discussion with the speakers, topics ranging from housing counseling and assistive technology to new housing construction and care were explored.

“We look back with pride on many years during which we were able to provide concrete help to our visitors. For some, even a small everyday aid was enough—for example, to be able to open a bottle or a jar of jam on their own. Others received detailed advice on bathroom renovations or the design of a publicly accessible building,” explained Nicole Bruchhäuser from the Advisory Center for Accessible Construction and Living.

At the same time, the director of Belle Wi pointed out existing challenges: Structural modifications are often costly, and financing them is becoming increasingly difficult. In addition, there is a shortage of affordable, accessible housing, while home care is also not sufficiently guaranteed. On top of that, there are new assistive technology systems, and information and guidance are needed regarding their implementation and use.

The services offered at the model exhibition are therefore being continuously expanded. In addition to the monthly counseling sessions offered by “Blickpunkt Auge Wiesbaden” on the topic of vision loss, counseling by digital guides has also been part of the program since this year. Every second Thursday of the month, they assist seniors in particular with using smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Artificial intelligence (AI) is also playing an increasingly important role in everyday assistive technology. At the anniversary event, for example, guests were able to try out a text-to-speech device that describes photos and deciphers handwriting. Another example was an AI-powered daily life assistant that features, among other things, a reminder function and a voice-activated emergency call feature.

“I would like to extend my special thanks to the volunteers, without whose dedication Belle Wi would not be possible in its current form. Through their reliable and expert work, they have played a key role in helping the model exhibition become the institution it is today over the past ten years,” emphasized Kowol.

The model exhibition is open on Tuesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. No registration is required, and admission is free. Groups are asked to make an appointment in advance by calling (0611) 312885 or emailing belle-wi@wiesbaden.de.

Further information can be found at www.wiesbaden.de/belle-wi (opens in a new tab).