News article | 05/31/2023 | 6:00 p.m.
In the years to come, the government will allocate structural funds to promote cohabitation between young people and seniors. Minister Helder (Dependency and Sport) today put the aid scheme for intergenerational living on the Internet. With this subsidy, the rents for rooms in residences for the elderly can be reduced by €200 per month for young tenants between the ages of 18 and 30.
Because these houses are becoming an affordable alternative, it is interesting for young people to opt for this lifestyle. The objective of the subsidy is to increase the cohesion and the quality of life in the complexes with residences for the elderly. Because young people live among the elderly, they can also help with lighter (care) tasks such as eye drops or errands.
“The knife cuts both ways here. We see a relatively growing number of elderly people, fewer caregivers to care for them, a shortage of housing and the loneliness of young people. Through this arrangement, we can provide young people with affordable accommodation, and they can always chat or visit someone in the complex. For the elderly, it offers more life in the brewery and additional help and support. Young and old can mean a lot to each other and learn from each other. Because they live together and side by side, there is also more understanding for each other,” said Minister Helder.
Contact increases the well-being of the elderly
This program builds on existing initiatives such as Het Ouden Huis in Bodegraven, residential care center De Posten in Enschede and residential care center Humanitas in Deventer. Research shows that intergenerational contact, such as having conversations, playing games and eating together, improves the health and well-being of older adults. This year, the government will allocate 5.2 million euros to this device, doubling that of next year, after which the amount will structurally increase to 49 million euros.
The program is aimed at young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who want to actively contribute to the quality of life and interaction in a residential complex for the elderly. It can be cooking together, helping with light household chores or walking with the residents. The young tenant and the landlord agree on this subject in the rental agreement. In exchange, a landlord such as a housing company or a care organization receives €200 per rented room per month to reduce the young people’s rent.