For people with disabilities, independence does not necessarily mean living entirely alone. Sometimes, the ideal solution lies between the security of a residential care home and the freedom of having one’s own accommodation. Monaco has now created a new option designed to offer precisely that balance.
On Monday 5 October, Princess Stéphanie visited the Principality’s new Unité de Vie Partagée (Shared Living Unit), a residential facility offering people with disabilities greater independence while providing professional support.
Opened on 1 July in the Hemera building, the facility fills an important gap between traditional residential care and completely independent living.
Rather than simply being shown around by officials, the Princess was welcomed and guided through the premises by two of its residents.
A Different Approach to Independent Living
Not everyone with a disability needs the supervision of a traditional residential institution. Equally, living completely alone can present practical difficulties, particularly with everyday tasks such as preparing meals.
The Shared Living Unit offers a middle ground.
Occupying 450 square metres of interior space, together with 180 square metres outdoors, the facility has ten customisable bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. Communal areas provide opportunities for residents to socialise and enjoy a sense of community.
A specialised educator provides support each morning and evening, principally with meal preparation, while residents remain free to pursue their own activities, including employment and leisure interests, during the day.
The emphasis is not simply on providing accommodation, but on helping people develop greater confidence and independence in their daily lives.
Princess Stéphanie Meets the Residents
Princess Stéphanie was accompanied by Christophe Robino, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, and Mikaël Palmaro, representing the President of the National Council.
Also present were Victoria Campana, Deputy Director of Social Action and Assistance, and Jean-François Calmes and Robert Laure, respectively President and Vice-President of AMAPEI.
But the most important participants were the residents themselves.
Two beneficiaries of the programme guided the Princess around their new home, offering a personal introduction to a facility designed around their everyday needs.
Who Can Benefit?
The accommodation is intended for residents of the Principality with officially recognised disability status.
The Commission d’Évaluation du Handicap, Monaco’s Disability Assessment Commission, is responsible for referring eligible individuals to the facility.
For people capable of managing much of their daily routine but who benefit from regular assistance, the Shared Living Unit offers an alternative previously unavailable in this form in Monaco.
The objective is straightforward: a secure, supportive environment without unnecessarily restricting personal freedom.
More Than Just a Roof Over Their Heads
The significance of the project extends beyond its ten bedrooms.
For people with disabilities, the opportunity to make everyday decisions, organise their own schedules, participate in working life and enjoy personal privacy can be fundamental to dignity and self-confidence.
By combining private accommodation, shared facilities and targeted professional assistance, Monaco’s new Shared Living Unit brings these priorities together.
It is a relatively small project in terms of numbers, but an important addition to the Principality’s social infrastructure.
And perhaps its greatest achievement will be measured not in square metres or accommodation statistics, but in something much more personal: the freedom of its residents to live increasingly on their own terms.
