This guidebook is designed to motivate you, as an individual or a local organisation active in the elderly care sector – or willing to, to set up a cooperative. When planned well, the cooperative can make a huge difference on a territory, for the elderly but also for the community as a whole: it may even help non-profit elderly organisations develop a stable financial basis, and provide members a way to take part in the management and development of care services.

But before going ahead, it is worth taking a step back. Setting up a cooperative is an exciting, but also time and energy consuming adventure: you may want to be sure it is the right tool for you, and that you have gathered all the necessary information and resources before actually creating anything. The steps, questions and tips provided below may lead you to identify the perfect business idea for your project.