Living as a 24-year-old applied gerontology (study into aging) among thirty seniors. Rosalie Boter from Gieten did it for a year and that worked out well for everyone.
Housing corporation Actium started the experiment together with Boter to investigate the effect of different generations living in a senior citizen’s flat. Many elderly people move to a senior complex in the hope of a social life, research shows. But in practice this is still disappointing.
Making contact with neighbors and maintaining these contacts proves difficult. Can a young person contribute to this and if so, what? What is the benefit if a young person lives among the elderly in a senior’s flat? Is there more connection because a young person takes other initiatives? These are questions that Actium wanted an answer to, so the help of Boter was called in.
Jos Kruit is team manager neighborhoods and he is very enthusiastic about the project. “We are very positive about the results. Actually more than we had hoped, because we did not know what to expect. We wondered whether things were going well between the residents and Rosalie and whether they trusted a young person. Fortunately, that all look good.”
Actium would like to offer its residents a home. And according to Kruit, this project can help with that. “It’s mainly about the small things. That the residents get to know each other and maybe drink coffee together. Rosalie has now achieved that with this project. The entrance hall is now a meeting place and a residents’ committee has been set up.”
In September 2021, Boter moved to the Fabriciusflat. “From the beginning I made it clear why I lived here. Most neighbors liked the idea that I came to live with them and I was welcome almost everywhere for a cup of coffee. After a few weeks I got the first calls for help, such as helping to press the button because they couldn’t get the radio louder. They are small things, but they have a great added value for the residents and the elderly.”
What became especially clear to Boter during her stay is that loneliness among the elderly is a real problem. “After the introduction, the ice was soon broken and I sat drinking coffee with everyone for over an hour. Results came up that otherwise perhaps no one would have found out or people would not have spoken.”
She started a residents’ committee together with the apartment residents. “They had heard of it, but it never really got off the ground. It is very satisfying to be able to do so much for the residents. It ranges from a cup of coffee, help with drafting a letter, a walk make it into an errand.”
As an appreciation and reminder of the good time, Boter received a thank you from the residents. To loud applause, they unveiled a sign hanging in the hall of the flat. “With your knowledge in your field, you were a support and rock for many residents in the Jan Fabriciusflat”, the sign reads.
“It was just a big party all year round. I already miss it terribly”, Boter thanked the residents in turn.
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