“Oase Mülihalden”: senior citizen center with a social focus

The UBS LivingPlus real estate fund, which already has a broad portfolio of retirement and care facilities, is realizing a project for the Oase Group as a tenant for the first time. Construction started in August 2023 and is scheduled for completion in April 2026. The property combines assisted living and nursing care under one roof and contributes to the region’s social infrastructure. The project is an example of the fund’s strategic focus on promoting forms of housing with a focus on demographic and social development. In this interview, Nathalie Balcon, CEO of the Oase Group since 2024, explains the “Oase” concept, the special features of the location, and her vision for the future of senior living.

I am particularly pleased to be part of a modern, growing and strong company in which we can achieve great things together. With my team, I not only have the opportunity to play an active role in shaping developments, but also to take on responsibility and achieve tangible success. I love how we combine our individual strengths to surpass ourselves as a community time and time again.

I see a deep meaning in creating a beautiful, safe and warm home for older people – places that give them a sense of security and are filled with joie de vivre. Our vision and values carry us along this path and form the foundation of our corporate culture. We live it consciously, with each other and for each other. This not only makes us strong, but also connects us in a special way.

What inspires me anew every day is the dynamism: We are constantly on the move, learning together, sharing knowledge, growing together, and having fun at the same time. It is particularly nice for me to be able to witness how new “Oase” centers are being created, which are gradually being filled with life, warmth and joy – a visible sign of our joint journey and our success.

I see it less as a challenge and more as a great opportunity. It is exciting to think from the mountains to the city, and to bring together different perspectives. It is particularly valuable that we learn from each other across locations and live our “Oase” concept together – regardless of where we are. We are supported by our technical experts in the Service Center, who are available at all locations. And thanks to modern technology, hardly any distance is too far these days, so we can work closely together as a team despite the physical distance.

I recently walked across the construction site and stood in one of the apartments – my first thought was: wow! The rooms are flooded with light and offer a wonderful view of the greenery. The size of the building feels very homely, and the room planning is so successful that our senior citizens can really feel at home there. Every new “Oase” is something very special – and Mülihalden will be our “youngest”, until the next one is built. I am also particularly looking forward to working closely with the commune and all the partners involved, who make this location so valuable.

We offer two residential groups, each with eleven single rooms, which can also give people with dementia a safe home. We run our residential care groups according to the motto “make yourself at home”: The focus is on an everyday life that is organized together – with cooking, shopping, walks, caring for our animals and maintaining rituals.

We also rent out 32 apartments in various sizes. The residents of these apartments can receive additional services flexibly and individually, depending on their needs.

The offer is complemented by a public restaurant, a hairdresser, physiotherapy, podiatry, a fitness room and the support of nursing staff who are on site around the clock, including for emergencies.

Special highlights include our shared vacations, various activities in the house, and wonderful excursions that enrich life at Mülihalden and create a real sense of community.

What makes “Oase Bassersdorf Mülihalden” special is our holistic concept, which is geared towards autonomy and self-determined living. Depending on their state of health, we can offer the right form of living for every senior citizen – individually and flexibly.

One major advantage is that it is possible to change areas within the community: for example, temporarily from an apartment to a care unit, and later back to their own apartment. Additional day or night semi-residential facilities can also be deployed. What’s more, our services can be tailored to personal requirements – and even changed on a daily basis.

This flexibility provides safety and provides for a carefree life in the “Oase”.

My aim is to create a home in Mülihalden where people feel completely comfortable and safe. A place where people can live in a community if they want to – and where many encounters are possible. It is important to us to warmly welcome our neighbors and residents and thus promote a lively community.

We want to turn our youngest “Oase” into a real home where our vision and values are tangible – a place where people laugh, live and share time together.

Self-determination is the top priority for our residents. They want to help shape things, stay active, try out new things, and enjoy life to the full, even in old age. Our offers can be used if they are wanted – according to the motto: I can if I want to, but I don’t have to.

One of our core values is courage, and we live it in our everyday lives. We have the claim: There’s no such word as “can’t”. This motivates us to make many things possible. We have already been able to fulfill many of our senior citizens’ heartfelt wishes – big and small – and give them special moments.

I am convinced that the character of a residential community will become even more important in the future. Different generations will increasingly live together, and stays in care units will tend to be shorter. Instead, outpatient care directly in people’s homes will continue to gain in importance.

For me there are two main needs here: autonomy and safety. Both will become even more important for an aging society. Technology is also playing an increasingly important role in providing support and making everyday life easier.

However, the people who breathe life into such a community remain indispensable – from the nursing staff to the catering staff, the therapists, the cleaners and the managers. It is therefore not just a question of further developing the forms of living, but also of taking the employees with us on this journey and creating a good working environment for them. This is the only way to ensure the success of senior living in the future.

We are responding to this change with openness and courage. We try out new things and actively involve both our senior citizens and our employees in the development process. Our aim is to make even the seemingly impossible possible, to think in new ways, and to be inspired time and again. Standing still is not an option for us – it is precisely this process of thinking ahead continuously that makes the growth of the “Oase” possible.

The future of senior living involves: autonomy, safety and flexible forms of living, embedded in a lively community. This is exactly where we come in with the “Oase” concept.

- Nathalie Balcon, CEO Oase Gruppe