Coworking Is Finding A Place In The Future Of French Elderly Care Homes

As France continues to reflect on the future of elderly care, one path gaining traction is the integration of coworking spaces directly within EHPADs (an acronym for “nursing homes for elderly” in France). What began as a local experiment is now emerging as a broader initiative aimed at transforming these facilities into community-centered hubs that promote social interaction, intergenerational exchange, and new uses for underutilized space.

A concrete example is the Monts du Matin EHPAD in Bésayes, near Romans-sur-Isère (Southern France), which has introduced coworking spaces into its premises. Through a partnership with Soliwork by Desk—a platform specializing in proximity-based workspaces—rooms once reserved for internal use have been made available to teleworkers and small businesses. The facility now offers shared offices, a micro-crèche, catering services, and short-term furnished rentals, all within a setting designed to foster interaction between professionals, residents, and their families.

According to director Didier Meyrand, the initiative creates both practical convenience and deeper social ties: relatives of residents can work onsite and spend more quality time with their loved ones.

This model is not an isolated case. Supported by organizations like Arbitryum and Makesense, a national coalition is now promoting coworking in elderly care institutions across France. The project, presented at VivaTech 2025 in Paris, proposes turning EHPADs into “platforms”—as recommended in the think tank Matières Grises’ report on the future of care homes. The idea is to open up these spaces to their surrounding communities, providing local entrepreneurs, associations, and social enterprises with affordable work environments that also connect them to the elderly population.

The ambition is to equip 50 EHPADs by the end of 2025. The approach varies by site: some coworking users pay a modest fee, while others contribute by spending time with residents. Soliwork provides both the physical setup and management software, allowing care homes to easily handle reservations and operations. Early feedback has been positive from both families and residents, who appreciate the increased activity and opportunities for interaction throughout the week.

Picture source: Monts du Matin Ehpad website