In Brussels, 16 rooms at the Home Saint-Joseph have been fitted with new thermal blinds and curtains, protecting the elderly residents from heat and light in accordance with care standards and providing new comfort to some of the city’s most vulnerable seniors.
The Saint-Joseph Home The Little Sisters of the Poor has been caring for elderly people in need in Brussels since 1856. Run by a Catholic congregation founded in 1839 in Brittany by Jeanne Jugan, who was canonized in 2009, the nursing home provides residential and nursing care to people aged 60 and older with little or no financial means, regardless of religion or background.
It is home to 170 residents, supported by a staff of 121, and operates as an accredited bicommunal nursing home. Its founding mission remains unchanged: to ensure that every elderly person in its care is loved, supported, and never has to spend their final years alone.
In addition to nursing care, the nursing home offers a comprehensive program of social and cultural activities and is known for its family-like atmosphere that places human dignity at the heart of everything it does. The daily fee paid by residents does not cover all of the home’s operating costs, which is why it relies on generous donors to continue its mission.
When Standards Meet Aging Infrastructure
Since January 2024, the updated standards for nursing homes in Belgium require that all residents’ rooms be equipped with thermal blinds that provide adequate sun protection. With 90 rooms to equip and limited annual budgets, the Little Sisters of the Poor are carrying out the upgrades in stages, year after year, as donations come in.
Thanks to a 10,000-euro grant from UFB, the wing on Rue Abricotier—whose southwest-facing rooms are among the sunniest—was fully equipped in 2025. In total, 16 rooms were fitted with new thermal blinds and 2 rooms with new blackout curtains. For residents who spend long hours in their rooms, the difference is noticeable: cooler conditions in the summer, better sleep, and a modest but significant upgrade to their personal space.
“The residents are happy about this new addition. They enjoy spending time in their rooms, and this will make their stay more pleasant. Thanks to your donation, we were able to install blinds in 16 rooms and replace the curtains in two rooms with new blackout curtains. The nursing home isn’t fully equipped yet, but thanks to you, improvements are being made little by little. Thank you all for your loyalty and unwavering support year after year.” — Marion Rostain, Executive Assistant
Every room is a home
For an elderly person living in a nursing home, their room is their world. Thanks to donors like you, the Little Sisters of the Poor can continue to make that world a little more comfortable and a little more dignified—one room at a time.
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