Aargau holiday centre expands to 55 places for people with disabilities

Switzerland has few holiday places for people with severe disabilities. The Wannental holiday centre in Gontenschwil, Aargau, has expanded its capacity from 20 to 55 places at a cost of 10 million Swiss francs, SRF reports.

The centre has accommodated people with disabilities for 30 years. It is operated by the Altried Foundation, which provides around 180 residential places for people with disabilities in the canton of Zurich.

The former holiday house was a converted farm building. It has now been replaced by a new development consisting of two houses. One is designed for standard residential groups, while the other is intended for guests who need clear routines and a low-stimulation environment.

The centre is set in the countryside, with views over the Wannen and upper Wynental valleys. About 10 people with disabilities also work there in a protected setting, helping with farming and animal care. They guide holiday guests through the animal park and process farm products.

Facilities designed for different needs

Accessibility alone is not enough for all the guests’ needs. The holiday houses are also intended for people with autism spectrum disorders. The Wannental centre therefore has special retreat rooms designed to avoid sensory overload. Another room contains light, sound and tactile features to help guests relax.

The centre is also equipped with care beds, nursing baths, transfer aids and personal alarm systems. Guests and carers can call for assistance at the push of a button.

The holiday rooms are available to the public and can be booked by institutions, which arrive with both their guests and their own carers. All rooms are single rooms with balconies. The new building currently has a somewhat bare appearance, but Erhard Humm, vice-president of the Altried Foundation, said some of the furnishings that make it feel like home were still missing. He said the challenge was to balance comfort and safety.

Guests welcome a change of scenery

Two residential groups from the Altried Foundation are currently staying at Wannental. Instead of following the fixed daily routine and working at their residential home in Zurich, guests can sleep in, move freely around the grounds and take trips, including to Lucerne.

Carer Tamara Hill brings a Zurich residential group to Wannental every year. “People with disabilities also need variety, holidays and a change of scenery,” she said.

The Altried Foundation has worked for people with disabilities since 1975. It operates around 180 residential places and 360 work and activity places in Zurich Schwamendingen, on the Zürichberg and in Dübendorf. The Wannental holiday centre expands its services in the leisure sector.