The Thomashuis in Roden wants to be more public. The new owners, Ingrid and Alfred Nijenhuis, hope to give the form of housing for people with an intellectual disability a ‘more social interpretation’. “But the residents remain the number one priority.”
Ingrid Nijenhuis brings a wealth of care experience with her, while her husband Alfred comes from the world of energy. Yet the two have been dreaming of their own care place for some time. “The concept of a Thomas house appeals to us very much,” says Ingrid. When the place in Roden became available, where there are eight residents in total, they seized their chance. They have been running a trial for a month now, but this week the couple from Rolde actually received the keys to the Thomashuis.
The Thomashuis is hidden behind the golf course of the village at Oosteinde. Thomashuis Noordenveld, as it is called from this month. “Because we want to be a place for the entire municipality,” says Ingrid. “We would like it if this would soon become a place where people from the village who need it can sit down for a cup of coffee. Not that it will be very busy here, but we also want to be open to the environment .”
Think of it as a piece of the fight against loneliness, says Ingrid. “And maybe someone from the neighborhood can also join us for dinner. We’re looking forward to that.”