Young and old benefit from Dutch shared housing project

Ninety-two-year-old Johanna beams at the 20-year-old man stepping into her room - not a visiting grandson, but rather a housemate at her retirement home.

Town planning student Jurrien is one of six students who have chosen to live in the yellow-brick home in Deventer in the eastern Netherlands in a project that benefits everyone.

The university students pay no rent and in exchange spend at least 30 hours a month with some of the 160 elderly who live here, doing the things professional staff cannot always do - such as just hanging out.

"They go see the pensioners for a chat, they play games, go with them to the shopping mall, and do shopping for those who can't," says activity coordinator Arjen Meihuizen.

Gea Sijpkes, the head of the Humanitas retirement home, said: "It's important not to isolate the elderly from the outside world."

Preventing 'ghettos'

While retirement homes in many European countries lack enough rooms for an aging population, budget cuts by the Dutch government have made it increasingly difficult to get a subsidized place, leaving some with more rooms than they can fill.

The sharing idea has resonated in a country where many people do volunteer work, and other retirement homes are coming up with their own variations on the theme.

So-called "intergenerational" projects are also springing up elsewhere in Europe, but usually not within retirement homes because of the shortage of rooms.

In the French city of Lyon, a project was set up for students to pay rent to live in a retirement home, but the rules are strict and, unlike in Deventer, friends are not allowed to visit.

In Britain, a commission chaired by a former care minister Paul Burstow recommended new housing for the elderly and disabled should be incorporated into shopping developments, new apartment blocks and even universities to prevent the elderly from being cut off in "care ghettos".

The students in Deventer prepare simple evening meals for some of the elderly and offer them activities according to their interests. Student Jordi, for instance, took a group into the garden and gave them cans of paint to spray on cardboard so they could learn about graffiti.

Jurrien gives weekly computer lessons to Anton Groot Koerkamp, 85, who can now send e-mails, surf the Internet and go on Facebook.

Rooms too small

"Not only do I not pay any rent, but I also like working with the elderly," said 22-year-old journalism student Denise. "Given that student rooms are too small, too dirty and too expensive, this is a fantastic alternative."

"For 400 euros ($500) I'd get barely 10 square meters and I'd have to share the kitchen and bathroom," Jurrien said.

"Here I have twice as much space and I have my own kitchen and bathroom."

The students can have friends over for drinks and even have a partner over for the night. There is no curfew or other restriction as long as the students behave reasonably.

(China Daily 12/03/2014 page10)