Associazione Melograno

What Associazione Melograno does

Associazione Melograno is a non-profit social-healthcare association headquartered in Lugano, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, formed in 2020 through the merger of two historic entities: Società Ticinese degli Amici dei Ciechi (STAC, founded 1911) and Fondazione Tusculum (founded 1981). It operates under a cantonal mandate from Canton Ticino to deliver residential and day-care services to elderly persons, blind and visually impaired individuals, and cognitively impaired persons.

The association runs five facilities in the Lugano area: three residential structures — Casa dei Ciechi (52 beds), Casa Anziani Tusculum (29 beds), and Domus Hyperion (40 beds) — totaling 121 residential beds, plus two day-care centers, Centro Diurno Terapeutico Lugano and Centro di Accoglienza Arogno, providing 30 daily places. Across all facilities, the association has applied the Montessori method for elderly care since 2019, a specialized pedagogical approach to dementia and aging care that distinguishes its service offering within the regional provider landscape.

The business model is a public-mandate framework: revenue is sourced primarily from cantonal subsidies from Canton Ticino, supplemented by resident and family contributions; there is no equity funding, commercial product line, or fee-for-service B2B component. The association employs more than 200 professionals across nursing, caregiving, therapeutic, and administrative functions, with operations covering long-term residential care, day-care programming, therapeutic activities, and specialized support for the visually impaired.

Name

Associazione Melograno

Legal name

Associazione Melograno

Website

https://melograno.swiss

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associazione Melograno is a Swiss non-profit social-healthcare network in Canton Ticino operating five facilities (121 residential beds, 30 day-care places) that serve elderly, blind, and cognitively impaired persons under a cantonal mandate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elderly and Disability Care Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Assisted Living with Enhanced Care / High-Acuity (Aging-in-Place) (HLADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health–Integrated Dementia Care Communities (Neuropsychiatric/BPSD Programs) (HLADACAE), Dementia & Wandering-Safety 24/7 In-Home Care (HSABAHAE), Chronic Care & Complex Care Management (HSABAIAD)

Keywords

• Elderly residential care
• Dementia care services
• Visual disability services
• Therapeutic day care
• Social healthcare facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Lugano

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cantonal Subsidy Revenue (Swiss Cantonal Health/Social Funding): Melograno operates as a subsidized social-healthcare provider under a cantonal mandate from the Canton of Ticino. The association receives government subsidies for residential care, day care, and specialized disability services, supplemented by client contributions (room and care fees). This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: The organization actively solicits donations through three dedicated channels: STAC (IBAN CH94 8080 8008 4711 7108 1), Associazione Melograno (IBAN CH28 8080 8003 0501 8254 5), and Fondazione Tusculum (IBAN CH43 8080 8005 7546 4383 4), plus TWINT QR code payments. Donations are tax-deductible under Swiss law.
3. Day Care Attendance Fees (Meal Contributions): The Centro di Accoglienza Arogno day care is free to attend; residents pay only a contribution for lunch consumed at the facility. Centro Diurno Terapeutico Lugano charges day attendance fees. These represent modest fee-for-service revenue components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Associazione Melograno operates a network of five social-healthcare facilities in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, providing residential and day care services for elderly persons, blind and visually impaired persons, and individuals with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's and dementia. The association delivers care across 121 residential beds and 30 day care places through three residential facilities (Casa dei Ciechi in Lugano, Casa Anziani Tusculum and Domus Hyperion in Arogno) and two day centers (Centro Diurno Terapeutico in Lugano and Centro di Accoglienza in Arogno), all applying the Montessori Method for elderly care.

Product overview

Associazione Melograno operates a network of five social-healthcare facilities in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. The portfolio consists of three residential facilities (Casa dei Ciechi in Lugano with 52 beds for blind/visually impaired; Casa Anziani Tusculum in Arogno with 29 beds; Domus Hyperion in Arogno with 40 beds for elderly with cognitive disorders) and two day centers (Centro Diurno Terapeutico in Lugano with 15 places; Centro di Accoglienza in Arogno with 15 places). All facilities implement the Montessori Method for elderly care, providing integrated medical care, rehabilitation, therapeutic activities, and specialized assistance for aging, visual impairment, and cognitive disorders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Casa dei Ciechi Historic 52-bed residential facility in Lugano for blind and visually impaired persons, including a 10-bed protected Alzheimer's unit. Provides 24/7 socio-health assistance, visual rehabilitation, orientation training, assistive technology support (Braille, screen readers), and recreational activities.
• Casa Anziani Tusculum Main 29-bed residential elderly care facility of Fondazione Tusculum in Arogno offering integrated medical services, therapeutic programs, recreational activities, and the Montessori method for elderly care.
• Domus Hyperion Modern 40-bed residential facility in Arogno specializing in care for elderly persons and individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia. Features protected Alzheimer's units and the Montessori approach throughout.
• Centro Diurno Terapeutico Lugano 15-place therapeutic day care center in Lugano for elderly and persons with cognitive fragility living at home, offering cognitive stimulation, music therapy, gentle gymnastics, creative workshops, and family support.
• Centro di Accoglienza Arogno 15-place socio-recreational day care center in Arogno for elderly persons living at home. Free attendance with only a contribution for lunch. Operates Monday to Wednesday within Casa Anziani Tusculum.
• Metodo Montessori per Anziani Adapted Montessori methodology for elderly care, stimulating residual capacities, promoting autonomy, and ensuring quality of life for persons with dementia and cognitive fragility. Applied organization-wide with trained staff and prepared environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Casa dei Ciechi provides 52 residential beds plus 15 day care places for visually impaired and elderly populations in Lugano; Casa Anziani Tusculum provides 29 residential beds in Arogno; Domus Hyperion provides 40 residential beds in Arogno; Centro di Accoglienza Arogno provides 15 day care places; Centro Diurno Terapeutico Lugano provides 15 day care places.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Arcaweb SaglminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArcaweb Sagl is a Ticino-based software development and mobile app company contracted to develop and maintain the Associazione Melograno website (melograno.swiss). Contact: [email protected]. This is a technical vendor relationship for website development and hosting support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Senevita AG: Senevita operates a network of residential care and assisted living homes across German-speaking Switzerland with multidisciplinary care models. It mirrors Melograno's multi-facility, mission-driven operating model for elderly populations.
• Domicil: Domicil is a Bern-based foundation operating multiple residential homes for elderly with personalized care programs. It is directly comparable as a non-profit, multi-facility residential elderly care operator in the Swiss regulatory framework.
• Sonnweid AG: Sonnweid, based in Wetzikon, is a long-standing Swiss specialist in residential care for people with dementia and challenging behaviors, and a recognized pioneer in non-pharmacological care approaches. It is highly comparable to Melograno's specialized Alzheimer's units and organization-wide Montessori methodology.
• SBH Switzerland (Schweizerischer Blindenverband): SBH is the national federation serving blind and visually impaired persons in Switzerland, providing residential and rehabilitation services. It is the closest peer to Melograno's Casa dei Ciechi, sharing more than a century of operational heritage in the same niche.
• Tertianum Group AG: Tertianum is Switzerland's largest operator of senior residences with 80+ locations offering residential, assisted living, and nursing care. It is directly comparable to Melograno in operating multi-site residential elderly care with multidisciplinary teams, although its funding model is private rather than cantonal.

Regional players

• Caritas Ticino: Caritas Ticino is a cantonal social-healthcare non-profit operating in the same Canton Ticino geography, addressing elderly, disability, and social assistance needs. It is a strong regional peer with overlapping mission and funding base but a different service mix.
• Pro Senectute Ticino: Pro Senectute Ticino is the cantonal chapter of Switzerland's national elderly support organization, providing community services for seniors in Canton Ticino. It is a comparable regional non-profit addressing elderly needs in the same geography.

Others

• Curaviva Schweiz: Curaviva Schweiz is the national association representing Swiss residential care homes and care providers. It is adjacent to Melograno as the industry body shaping policy, funding advocacy, and standards for the same non-profit elderly care sector.

Broad incumbents

• Croix-Rouge suisse / Swiss Red Cross: The Swiss Red Cross is a national humanitarian and healthcare non-profit operating diverse services including elderly care, mobility training, and care coordination. It is broadly comparable as a larger, established non-profit in the same regulatory environment with overlapping elderly care services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associazione-melograno

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Associazione Melograno