Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter

KWA Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter gAG is a German non-profit provider of housing and care for older people, headquartered in Unterhaching in the district of Munich. Its roots go back to 1966, when the association Münchner Altenwohnstift e.V. was founded in Munich with the aim of creating suitable housing for elderly people. The umbrella association Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter was established in 1977, and in 2005 the organisation converted from a registered association into a non-profit stock corporation (gemeinnützige Aktiengesellschaft), with former association members becoming shareholders while the charitable status was retained. The company operates senior residences known as KWA-Wohnstifte, assisted living under the KWA Betreutes Wohnen label, and higher-grade care homes called KWA-Pflegestifte. According to its 2023 annual report it ran 16 Altenwohnstifte across Germany with 2,901 residents, a clinic for neurological, geriatric and urological rehabilitation, and an academy with training centres for social professions. Its official website states that it is present at 17 locations in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin. The brand positions itself around the slogan "Leben. Wie ich es will." ("Living. The way I want.") and emphasises comfort and dignity, with 2026 marking its 60th anniversary. KWA is led by a board (Vorstand) under CEO Johannes Rückert, with Manfred Matusza as chairman of the supervisory board and Ekkehart Meroth as deputy chairman. In 2023 the company reported revenues of €145.42 million plus €10.38 million in other operating income, with fixed assets of €231.51 million, and employed 2,649 staff. It is a member of BAGSO, the German National Association of Senior Citizens' Organisations, and of the bpa, the Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services. The group holds several wholly owned subsidiaries, including KWA Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, KWA Baumanagement GmbH, KWA Betriebs- und Service-Gesellschaft gGmbH, KWA Wohnstifte gGmbH and KWA Betreutes Wohnen Planungs GmbH, as well as minority stakes in the Marianne-Strauß-Klinik and the Erwin-Stauss-Institut.

The history of KWA begins on 10 October 1966, when the association Münchner Altenwohnstift e.V. was founded in Munich. Its founders were Heinrich Junker, Bavarian State Minister of the Interior; Willi Guthsmuths, former State Secretary; Fritz Rüth, Chief Finance President; Hermann Beckmann, jurist; Heinz Wirsching, board member of the Bavarian Agricultural Bank and former Ministerialrat; Otto Hintner, university professor; and Eduard Oehl, lawyer. The association received charitable status in 1967. Willi Guthsmuths became chairman and Hermann Beckmann managing director. In the first decade, the first residence opened on 1 October 1969 in the Munich district of Neuperlach: the KWA Georg-Brauchle-Haus. In 1970 Munich's then mayor Hans-Jochen Vogel awarded the association the City of Munich honorary prize for good housing construction. On 1 October 1973 the first residence in Baden-Württemberg opened in Konstanz, the KWA Parkstift Rosenau. In 1977 the regional sponsoring associations gained a common umbrella organisation with the founding of "Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter", chaired by Wilhelm Faltlhauser. Between 1980 and 1999 the organisation expanded its services. On 1 April 1980 it opened a nursing school in Bad Griesbach, which under Karl-Heinz Edelmann grew into the KWA Bildungszentrum with further specialist and vocational schools, a technical academy for social pedagogy and continuing education offerings; since 2012 it has been located in Pfarrkirchen. In 1992 KWA opened a clinic for neurological and geriatric rehabilitation in Bad Griesbach, the KWA Klinik Stift Rottal, where chief physician Christoph Garner established a holistic approach combining classical treatments, modern device-supported physiotherapy and alternative therapies. In the same year the first residence in Hessen was taken over. In 1995 the first KWA residence in North Rhine-Westphalia opened. On 1 April 1996 the Münchner Altenwohnstift and the regional sponsoring associations merged into the new association KWA Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter e.V. In 1999 the subsidiary KWA Betriebs- und Service GmbH (KBS) was founded, which today houses KWA kitchen operations, gastronomy, housekeeping, IT, KWA Reisen and KWA Club under the management of Horst Schmieder and Thomas Schurr. From 2000 to 2019 the group continued to professionalise. In May 2000 Horst Schmieder was appointed to the KWA board. In 2000 KWA Baumanagement under Gerhard Schaller and Betreutes Wohnen Planungs GmbH under Walter Eisele were launched. In 2002 a residence opened in Berlin, adding another federal state. In 2003, with "Seniorenwohnen am Bodensee" in Konstanz, KWA realised assisted living for the first time; the buildings are close to the residence so that residents can use its services and KWA's outpatient care service. In 2005 the charitable association became KWA Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter gAG, retaining its charitable status; former association members became shareholders and continued to contribute voluntarily, and a supervisory board elected by shareholders replaced the administrative council. In 2012 Stefan Arend was appointed to the KWA board, with Schmieder and Arend leading the company. By 2023 KWA operated 16 Altenwohnstifte with 2,901 residents, a rehabilitation clinic and an academy, and reported revenues of €145.42 million plus €10.38 million in other operating income, with fixed assets of €231.51 million and 2,649 employees. The company is led by board member Johannes Rückert under supervisory board chairman Manfred Matusza and deputy chairman Ekkehart Meroth. It is a member of BAGSO and the bpa. Its official website states that it is present at 17 locations in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, and that it will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026.

• 2026

  KWA celebrates its 60th anniversary.

• 2023

  KWA operates 16 residences with 2,901 residents, 2,649 employees and revenues of €145.42 million.

• 2012

  Stefan Arend appointed to the KWA board; education centre moves to Pfarrkirchen.

• 2005

  Conversion from association to non-profit stock corporation KWA Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter gAG.

• 2003

  First assisted living project, "Seniorenwohnen am Bodensee", realised in Konstanz.

• 2002

  Residence opens in Berlin.

• 2000

  Horst Schmieder appointed to the board; KWA Baumanagement and Betreutes Wohnen Planungs GmbH launched.

• 1999

  Subsidiary KWA Betriebs- und Service GmbH (KBS) founded.

• 1996

  Merger into KWA Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter e.V. on 1 April.

• 1995

  First KWA residence in North Rhine-Westphalia opens.

• 1992

  KWA Klinik Stift Rottal rehabilitation clinic opens in Bad Griesbach; first residence in Hessen taken over.

• 1980

  Nursing school opens in Bad Griesbach on 1 April.

• 1977

  Umbrella association Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter founded under Wilhelm Faltlhauser.

• 1973

  First residence in Baden-Württemberg, KWA Parkstift Rosenau, opens in Konstanz on 1 October.

• 1970

  City of Munich awards honorary prize for good housing construction.

• 1969

  First residence, KWA Georg-Brauchle-Haus, opens in Munich-Neuperlach on 1 October.

• 1967

  Association receives charitable status.

• 1966

  Münchner Altenwohnstift e.V. founded in Munich on 10 October.

Upscale, dignity-oriented senior living and care under the motto "Leben. Wie ich es will."

• KWA-Wohnstifte (senior residences)

• KWA Betreutes Wohnen (assisted living)

• KWA-Pflegestifte (care homes)

• KWA Klinik Stift Rottal (rehabilitation clinic)

• KWA Bildungszentrum (education centre)

• KWA Club

• KWA Reisen (travel)

1. 1KWA Kuratorium Wohnen im Alter - gehobenes Seniorenwohnenkwa.de
2. 2Kuratorium Wohnen im Alterde.wikipedia.org
3. 3Kuratorium Wohnen im Alterwikidata.org