The number of senior living communities continues to rise in Denmark. In 2025, the country had at least 442 retirement communities, compared to 427 the year before, as shown by the latest survey from the philanthropic association Realdania.
Senior living communities have been a focus area for Realdania since 2016, when the ‘Spaces and communities for the elderly’ initiative was launched. The new survey shows that since then, more than 8,000 new homes and 200 new senior housing communities have been established – which means that today, there are at least 12,775 residences in 442 retirement communities.
“First of all, it is gratifying to see that the trend is still going in the right direction and is expected to continue in the coming years. Each new senior living community and every new home in such a community means that more retirees can benefit from all the good things that arise from having a social community, security and quality of life,” says Stig Hessellund, Project Manager at Realdania.
Community and commitments
He refers to studies showing that 93% of elderly persons living in a senior living community experience increased quality of life, while 76% enjoy improved social relationships. But the benefits of living in a retirement community do not come by themselves, and as the residents themselves point out, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise if there is no consensus on the overall form of the community, or what the individual resident can expect from it.
“It’s not hard to understand why living in a senior living community has become popular. As a resident you have a community right on your doorstep, but when you close the door, you also have the privacy of your own home. However, community living demands commitment. As a resident you are an active part of the community, and you must be prepared to see yourself as part of that when you move in,” says Stig Hessellund.
Realdania’s survey of Danish senior living communities in 2025