Journal, Ireland - While retirement homes in many European countries – including Ireland – lack enough rooms for an ageing population, budget cuts by the Dutch government have made it increasingly difficult to get a subsidised 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.
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Source: Shutterstock
In some schemes, the elderly rent out a room in their own house or apartment, in others, housing projects are built specifically to house the young with the elderly.
In the French city 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 minister recommended in September that 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 ghettoes”.
“The old model saw care homes as isolated institutions where things were done to you rather than for you and were islands of misery,” said former care minister Paul Burstow.
Care homes that are cut off from their communities aren’t real homes.
Graffiti workshops
The students in Deventer prepare simple meals for some of the elderly in the evening 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.
“Now I can send emails, go on the internet, look up videos and go on Facebook,” he said proudly.
There is no obligation for the elderly to take part in activities with the students.
But many, like Jurrien’s neighbour Johanna, seem happy with the arrangement.
“I’m old, he’s young, but we get along well,” she said.
“We do small things, not much really, but it can help put them in a good mood,” said Jurrien.
Student rooms are too small
“Not only do I not pay any rent, but I also like working with the elderly,” said journalism student Denise, 22.
Given that student rooms are too small, too dirty and too expensive, this is a fantastic alternative.
“For €400 I’d get barely 10 square metres (100 square feet) 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 are reasonable.
“One time I came back in the middle of the night and I woke my neighbour (Johanna), she wasn’t very happy,” said Jurrien.
So, being a good neighbour I went and apologised and promised not to do it again.
Then again, Jurrien said, smiling: “When she watches (Dutch television game show) ‘Lingo’, I can hear everything through the wall.”
- © AFP, 2014 Read: It’s a bird, it’s a plane… No, it’s the 75-year-old Flying Nun > Opinion: Dublin is a great place to live, but not necessarily when you’re old > Already a fan? Connect below...
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Sean Casey Dec 7 5:41 PM # 16 396
Wonderful stuff Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Katinka Flohr Dec 8 5:40 PM # 2 79
Glad to see we’re taking time out of our own busy schedule to entertain the elderly and give them the love, chitchats and laughter their partner probably can’t give them anymore. I think it’s a great idea. #proudtobedutch Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Del Dec 7 5:53 PM # 12 177
Brilliant, two beautiful woman in the pic Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Fake Avast Dec 7 8:33 PM # 66 34
It’s stock picture, probably some Russian (shutterstock) girl with her grandma. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Yvonne Duffy Mar 12 9:53 PM # 6 7
Jennifer William, This was a tongue in cheek comment. My dad has neither property or money. But hey ho! Look on the bright side he has an abundance of love and respect from a devoted family. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Linda T Rein Mar 7 6:07 PM # 2 60
I work in a nursing home that is a great idea there is never enough staff around. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Yvonne Mullen Dec 7 9:37 PM # 7 88
Best. Idea. Ever. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Chris Dec 7 5:50 PM # 15 145
It’s a pity the government aren’t proactively looking for initiatives like this. It’s the same with fuel laundering. If they removed the dye and gave a tax rebate it would solve a lot of problems with laundering, smuggling, fire brigade and customs call outs, environmental pollution all in one go. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Joe Simpson Dec 7 6:14 PM # 377 16
Yes lets give expensive and limited nursing home beds to students who float about for 30hrs a month doing nothing. It’s a silly idea. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Patrick Dec 7 6:24 PM # 14 100
The government doesn’t have the brains to implement any kind of incentive , unless it involves creating a quango fill it with their mates and throw a shedful of money at it. Creative solutions and FF FG LAB are mutually exclusive terms. However if we returned to local governing the people could implement their own policies get involved in running their community bonding together and having a collective sense of pride in their contribution. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Sheelagh Reid Dec 7 6:51 PM # 4 84
If you’d read the article you would know that there is no shortage in some retirement houses in NL. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Joe Simpson Dec 7 7:55 PM # 88 7
I was responding to the comment about initiatives like this here.
Anyway would a hotel give someone free room because there’s vacancies? There’s thinking outside the box and then there’s cheap publicity(The nursing home is trying to fill the student/empty beds with paying clients from this). Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment pongodhall Dec 9 12:03 PM # 9 32
So many elderly live alone, and die alone. A little helping hand here and there changes lives.
SAVES MONEY ON INPATIENT SERVICES ETC. TELLING GOVT WHERE THEY HEAR…PURSES!
Taking to a social club would be a great service to provide. Someone to change the gas cylinder as necessary is pretty urgent. Impossible to open tin or peel and chop carrots, turnip and fruits, these things are not considered. Freezers could be filled with containers of stewed fruit and cooked vegetables. Just chop it for folks. They will cook and bag. So wonderful. If someone could pop in once a week so bread and milk is got that would be perfect. They freeze. It is the practical challenges that do not seem to be considered but making life easy and accessible warmth, cooking and food, not forgetting that entertainment (computer or android of some sort) changes peoples’ lives and the outlook is positive with these comforts.
Health improves, medical needs also are less and CHEAPER FOR STATE. LISTENING NOW?
Someone to fetch prescriptions once a month, or to get them to the doctor on occasion. Ensure disabled have a telephone call to check on them when weather bad or well dries up in summer some bottled water is crucial.
A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Jenifer Williams Mar 12 7:51 PM # 3 31
It’s actually not silly. I’m a former nursing home resident from the US and I would have loved to had some people my age to hang up with when I lived there (I was in my early 20's at the time). Studies have shown that animals, children, plants and people make a huge difference in the mood and overall happiness of nursing home resident’s. Look up The Eden Alternative, you’ll see what I mean. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Mike Field Mar 11 12:49 AM # 2 36
When I go visit my dad in the nursing home here in Canada I always bring my dog along. I’m usually there 2-3 times a week and we often end up visiting others too. It’s a great ice breaker and many don’t get visitors very often. Sadly some get no visitors at all. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Kathy Huish Mar 12 8:59 PM # 1 12
I did the same when my mom’s been in for rehab. The dogs instantly brighten people up, and residents who don’t usually talk much end up telling you all about the dogs they used to have. It’s nice too to have a happy creature there that isn’t just ‘doing rounds’ giving them meds or taking vitals….which is about all the staff has time for. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Keith Faherty Dec 7 11:28 PM # 1 24
Great idea Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Melanie Pereira Mar 13 1:17 AM # 0 5
Inspiring and truly innovative! Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment pongodhall Dec 9 11:37 AM # 2 9
Oh, computer lessons…. How so many would love those. out for about 15 minutes to write carefully about one thing and then time to practice at home. If a bit of shopping and a trip to the library was allowed before getting home it would be perfect. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Teresa QueenSugarplum Varela Mar 12 3:48 PM # 4 12
Being from the States I worry about the care of the elderly because I hear all the time about elderly abuse in those places. This kind of system seems to be a great thing because not only do the elderly have the young to be in contact with on a daily basis if they want but it seems like this might cut down on elderly abuse by nursing staff who shouldn’t be looking after them in the first place.. They should do some experiments of this in the States as well and see if if would work here. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Stacey Dreher Sun 2:30 PM # 1 6
Teresa- I do not have any children, so the concept of not being taken care of well in my old age is very real and terrifying to me. However, I would see the situation more related to nurse “neglect” rather than “abuse” and do not see it as caregivers being lazy, but rather tremendously overworked in terms of being given an unsurmountable amount of responsibilities per day. I think we are all responsible in demanding that more of the money being paid to these places goes to staff and elderly needs instead of investors. I agree that this is a great model and the current system is tremendously flawed, but have the up most respect for the caregivers who are overworked for very little money. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Pam Coplin Mar 12 4:21 PM # 3 6
Thanks to the austerity measures, old people are being kept in their pyjamas, wear pampers because the nurses have no time to take them to the toilet, are ‘lucky’ if they have one shower a week. This initiative is fine but born of necessity and unique. There is no cheap housing for students anywhere! 100,000 visit the food banks (exclusive other family members, people who are eligible but are too ashamed and people on the waiting list). So, probably 500,000 people out of a population of 17 million!! The Dutch government doesn’t care. People are committing suicide in drones, people are being evicted in drones, abuse does take place in nursing homes, politicians are corrupt………….I could go on all day. Don’t b fooled by one “happy” story Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment John Schmid Mar 13 3:19 AM # 1 3
http://www.best-alzheimers-products.com/hogewey-dementia-village.html Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Yvonne Duffy Dec 7 11:21 PM # 24 15
Ah it’s all fun and games until yer new mammy is a arts student in ucd and has inherited the whole lot of yer dad’s money and properties! Hahaha….. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Jenifer Williams Mar 12 7:58 PM # 3 13
I see what you’re saying but like the other comment says, if the real family spent time with the person in the nursing home, then maybe they’d be the one getting the inheritance. It’s funny that the first thing you thought to comment on was money… Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment John Seychel Mon 5:07 AM # 0 1
Why does the countries in that area make it always sound like the best place to live and die in the world. I hear stories about them and its never bad. There is no reason we in the USA can start doing these kind of things that make other countries sound so great. Why do we never try, and when we do succeed there’s always something going to make a good thing end soon here. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Tristen Jackson Sun 6:25 PM # 0 0
How does a person fit inside a drone in order to commit suicide? Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Duncan Lundie Tue 7:50 AM # 0 1
A drone with a person inside is called an aeroplane. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Eamon Mac Gowan Dec 8 8:32 PM # 34 7
What’s this “craic” nonsense? It’s spelled crack. Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment Linda Bate Mar 12 1:11 PM # 4 20
“Craic” (/kræk/ krak), or “crack”, is a term for news, gossip, fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation, particularly prominent in Ireland Reply Tweet | Share | Report this comment
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