Focus2.BBC. Student Accommodation

Summary

Yurian, a student in the Netherlands, lives in a nursing home as part of a project aimed at connecting young and elderly people. In exchange for free accommodation and savings, Yurian spends 30 hours a month with the elderly residents, assisting with technology and meals. This experience, along with living alongside seniors, fosters mutual respect and valuable life lessons. The project provides students with unique insights into aging, while the elderly benefit from the companionship and energy of youth, creating meaningful cross-generational relationships in a peaceful, community-focused environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Yurian is a student living in a nursing home in the Netherlands, aiming to connect with elderly residents and combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.
• 😀 Most of the residents in the nursing home are over 80 years old, and the project helps bridge the gap between young and old people.
• 😀 Yurian and five other students live in the nursing home for free, with the condition of spending 30 hours a month with the elderly residents.
• 😀 The accommodation in the nursing home is peaceful and quiet compared to typical student housing, with the exception of loud televisions due to some residents' hearing difficulties.
• 😀 Yurian's room is equipped with everything a student needs, and the lack of rent allows him to save €30,000 during his studies.
• 😀 While living in the nursing home, Yurian sought more than just financial savings; he wanted to gain the experience of connecting with elderly people.
• 😀 One of the students' responsibilities is to prepare the evening meal for the elderly residents.
• 😀 Yurian believes that students miss out on some typical student life experiences, but he values the next phase of life and the lessons learned through this project.
• 😀 The students and elderly residents share valuable exchanges, with students helping with technology and elderly residents offering life perspectives.
• 😀 Yurian appreciates the bond he has with the elderly residents, calling them his 160 grandparents, and enjoys the daily farewells as he heads to college.
• 😀 The living arrangement is centered around mutual respect, and the friendships that develop benefit both young and old, creating a meaningful experience for all involved.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of Yurian's project in the nursing home?

Yurian's project aims to connect young people with older adults and help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation among the elderly residents.

What is the accommodation arrangement for Yurian and the other students?

Yurian and five other students live in the nursing home rent-free. The only condition is that they must spend 30 hours each month with the elderly residents.

What is the benefit Yurian gets from living in the nursing home?

Yurian does not pay rent, which allows him to save 30,000 euros during his studies. However, the main reason he came to the nursing home was to connect with older people.

What does the living environment in the nursing home feel like compared to other student accommodations?

The nursing home is quiet and peaceful, unlike other student accommodations. The only noise comes from residents who are a little deaf, so the television is often turned up loud.

What is one of the students' responsibilities while living at the nursing home?

One of the students' responsibilities is to prepare the evening meal for the residents.

Do the students miss out on the traditional student life experience?

While the students miss some aspects of traditional student life, Yurian, who is 25 years old, believes he is in a new phase of his life and values the experience of living with elderly people.

What key lesson has Yurian learned from living in the nursing home?

Yurian has learned to respect older people and values the experiences and wisdom they bring.

How do the students and the elderly residents help each other at Humanitas?

The students help the elderly residents with technology, while the elderly provide the students with new perspectives on life. Both generations learn from one another.

How does Yurian feel about having many elderly people in the nursing home?

Yurian enjoys having 160 elderly people, whom he considers his 'grandparents,' wave him goodbye when he goes to college every day.

What is the fundamental principle of living at Humanitas?

The fundamental principle is mutual respect between the young students and the elderly residents, with the friendships that develop being important for both groups.