Student housing in a Dutch retirement home

Here’s an innovation. With few resources to keep residents active in a Dutch retirement home, the CEO decided to open up rooms to six students. In exchange for free student housing, the young adults spend at least 30 hours a month with the older residents. The students take the nursing home residents around town in a specialized tandem bicycle, play beer pong with them and build friendships and provide comfort to dementia patients.

Many Dutch students in their 20s are hard-pressed to find housing. It’s so expensive. So, this marriage of students and older adults is a win-win.  They are “good neighbors,” part health care provider, social worker, friend, grandchild, and more. Check out this video:

Here’s more from Just Care:

• Home care: How the Netherlands delivers good care at a good price
• Nursing homes can be cool places to live: The Eden Alternative
• Cutting edge small nursing homes: Green houses
• Can a new type of housing make us healthier?
• Where will you live in later life? Your community matters