Art of Dying Art of Dying_Volume III_joomag | Page 35
Director. “When I started in this new role, I decided we’re in
the Happiness Business rather than the elderly care business,”
explains Gea.
“I wanted to inject life into our elderly care home. We cannot
solve all the troubles that come with aging but we can give
a smile a day instead of, or as well as, a pill a day. We can
provide joy as well as safety. And my way of adding life,
smiles and joy? Asking young students to move in.”
However, when Gea suggested this idea to the board
members who are in overall charge of the care home, they
were shocked. “For them, students represented ‘sex, drugs
and rock and roll." They didn’t see how student life could
possibly be compatible with a home for the elderly.”
But Gea was determined and, as the elderly residents were
very positive about the idea, the board finally agreed to one
student living at Humanitas for a short trial period.
Onno, a 23-year-old spiky-haired party-loving social work
student, was given a warm welcome by everyone at Humanitas
and the trial was an instant success. “Right from the start, our
residents liked the idea of young people hanging around
and spending time with them,” says Gea.
“Over the next few months, five more students moved
into apartments at Humanitas – and as they moved in, the
atmosphere of the house changed. It became lighter. There
were more positive moments, more laughter, more smiles."
“The students sometimes say they can ‘earn a smile’ because
that’s their reward for spending time with the older residents
– a smile of appreciation.”
At the moment, three male and three female students live at
Humanitas. Gea explains that the students move out when
they graduate and find a job but there’s no shortage of
young volunteers waiting to snap up any vacant apartments.
“At the moment, the students who live here are studying
communication and urban design,” explains Gea.
“We avoid students who are studying nursing or other ‘caring’
When I
started
in this
new role,
I decided
we’re in the
Happiness
Business
rather
than the
elderly care
business.
GEA SIJPKES,
DIRECTOR OF HUMANITAS HOME FOR THE ELDERLY
subjects as our young residents aren’t here to provide care
for our elderly residents. They’re simply here to be good
neighbours.”
Gea explains that the only rule at Humanitas is ‘no trouble.’
“That’s the rule for everyone,” she stresses. “And because
many of our elderly residents are deaf, they’re rarely
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