01/05/2026
What a great idea!
In exchange for 30 hours of their time and companionship each month, local college students could live in the care center rent-free.
“It started with the idea of becoming the warmest home for seniors in Deventer,” Gea Sijpkes, director of WZC Humanitas, said in a statement. “And we wanted to do that with the energy of the youth.”
For Sijpkes, it’s a win-win. Recent studies find that intergenerational friendships can mitigate stress, lower depression, and boost self-esteem in older people.
“At the same time, there was a shortage of student housing, which meant that more and more young people were staying at home. I then thought: why don’t I combine the two?”
The director went on to explain that “the students are not caregivers” but instead “good neighbors.”
Although pool days, celebrations, and community dinners regularly bring all of the residents together organically, there are no strict rules when it comes to defining “volunteer hours.”
In fact, much of the students’ time is simply spent sitting and chatting with their newfound friends.
Click here to read more about the creative initiative: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/dutch-nursing-home-free-housing-college-students
