For three days, the Watergel sails over the Wilhelminakanaal, with the elderly from Son en Breugel on board. Foundation with your heart organizes these summer outings to combat loneliness. For Josje (82) and Els (78) it means more than just a day out. They got to know each other two years ago through the foundation and have since been girlfriends.
Summer is a quiet time for Els de Vos. “During the holidays you have nothing for so many weeks. I have been sitting at the choir One vanzin. But we have eight weeks of vacation. That’s a long time. I miss singing and contact. So things like this boat trip are always fun. I really like that.”
“It’s so nice here on the boat. They do different things every time,” says Josje Vogels (82). Just like Els, she is very active. “I’m on the gym, I read and at home I have a cat almost 18 years old. I get through my days.”
They got to know each other through Foundation with your heart. “That is two years ago,” says Josje. Els likes the friendship. As she gets older, her circle of friends has become smaller and smaller. “Many have died,” she says.
Josje adds: “I am also alone. My two brothers have died. I have to have friends. I visit them with them and they come to coffee with me.”
The two women regularly work together. Josje: “We are super fun. I make soup for her.” Els is happy with that. “I don’t cook and she makes very tasty soup. Especially that fish soup last week was really tasty.” “Now I have made an Indian vegetable soup,” Josje answers.
The boat trips are part of a summer campaign from Foundation with Je Hart from Son en Breugel. This summer, the Foundation organizes boat trips for the elderly who live independently, but often feel alone in the summer.
In contrast to the holidays or the winter period – in which there is plenty of attention for loneliness – the summer often stops. Literal. Dianne van Hak of the foundation: “Summer -o’clock is great. People normally go to their choir, swimming or gymnastics. That is often not on vacation in the summer. So the elderly people are more at home alone. Then we will ensure that they go out the door and meet new agreements. For example, to eat an ice cream.”
Els has an advice to prevent loneliness. “If you are lonely, go outside as much as possible. If, for example, you are going to do groceries, you will meet people you know. You can have a chat with that.” But this advice is not perfect either. “If the weather is bad and you can’t leave, then your whole days will be at home. Without chatting.”
Marianne (91), also on board, has her own approach: “What I do against loneliness is becoming a member of many clubs. Such as coffee-fought people, dining tables, things like that.” But now that many of those things have a summer break, they are happy that she can now go with the boat trip.