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A dutch nursing home program that provides free rent to university students in exchange for 30 hours per month of their time spent as 'neighbors' with elderly residents. The program aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation in older people, while also providing benefits for the young volunteers. The students engage in activities like teaching the elderly new digital skills, reading poetry, and leading creative workshops. The program has seen positive outcomes, with residents responding enthusiastically to the younger visitors and the students gaining valuable experience and a sense of connection with the older generation. The document highlights the mutual benefits of this intergenerational exchange, including improved wellbeing, extended life expectancy, and the likelihood of continued volunteering after university.
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A Dutch nursing home has run a program that provides free rent to university students in exchange for 30 hours per month of their time. The program allows students in their early 20s to share their lives with elderly residents in their 80s and 90s. As part of the volunteer agreement, students teach residents new skills like emailing, using social media, Skype, and even graffiti art.
The program aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation, which research shows can improve well-being and extend life expectancy in older people. Students often read poetry with dementia patients, which can bring comfort and reassurance through hearing and reciting familiar verses. Rhythm and rhyme in poetry can spark memories and a sense of order and predictability for the residents. Residents typically respond with enthusiasm to the novelty of younger visitors and the creativity students bring to their sessions. Residents are also encouraged to be creative by writing their own poetry, with English students offering expertise in selecting and discussing appropriate literature.
The program significantly increases the likelihood that students will continue to volunteer after university, fostering a sense of connection with the older generation. Students gain valuable experience and wisdom from interacting with the elderly residents. The free rent provided by the program allows students to save money and be better prepared for life after university.
Residents are usually thrilled to have visitors other than the medical staff and appreciate the newness and creativity the students bring.
Many ex-students continue to visit the care home, getting involved in wide-ranging conversations and discovering other activities that bring happiness and interest to the residents. One former student now not only visits a care home to read but also to hold ballet classes.