Lesson 3 Let’s Live in Harmony
Humanitas is a yellow brick house located in the ____ of Deventer, the Netherlands.
It is a care center that ____ more than 160 elderly residents who require assistance.
Along with ____ supportive environment, Humanitas offers something unusual: young neighbors.
At Humanitas, elderly residents share their living space with ____ students.
This unique “intergenerational living” project began in 2012, after budget cuts reduced the amount of money care ____ in the Netherlands received.
This funding reduction led to the loss of many essential elderly care programs, including ____, educational, and counseling services.
Humanitas needed to seek an affordable solution to fill the ____ left by the removal of these services.
Since the building had numerous empty rooms available, the ____ decided to offer local university students free accommodations in return for spending time with the elderly residents.
Many students were struggling to afford the area’s ____ rents, so the proposal was a true win-win situation.
____, let’s hear more about this intriguing place from two of the residents.
More Than a Free Place to Stay
Hi! My name is Jacob Jansen, and I’ve been living at Humanitas for over two ____.
____ really enjoyed my time here.
As a live-in student, I’m required to spend at least 30 hours per ____ with my elderly neighbors in exchange for free accommodations.
In reality, however, we spend a ____ more time together than that.
Sometimes I teach them things, such as how to use social media, and other times I just ____ out with them.
We have meals together, ____ games, and go shopping.
Humanitas doesn’t feel like a care ____ to me.
____, I consider it a community that I am a part of.
Every ____ I come home, I tell my neighbors about my day.
When I have a ____, they always have useful advice to share.
With so much ____ gathered over a lifetime, they possess knowledge that I have yet to acquire.
They also teach me lots of ____ but important things, often without realizing it.
For example, I’ve learned the value of having a casual chat ____ a cup of coffee from them.
It’s a really great way to take a break from rushing around all the ____.
I used to ____ sorry for the elderly because I focused only on the things they can’t do.
When I look at them now, however, I see all the ____ they can do.
Obviously, Humanitas provides me with ____ more than a free place to stay.
I’ve made deep, meaningful friendships that I’ll ____ forget here.
I intend to stay at Humanitas for at least one more ____.
Living here has changed my life in ways I never ____ possible, and I’m really grateful for this transformative experience.
I have learned so much from my neighbors already, but I’m sure there is still a lot ____ that they can teach me.
A Breath of Fresh Air
My name is Helena ____, and I am 93 years old.
I have been living at Humanitas for the past 15 years, so I remember when we were first informed that we would have ____ people as neighbors.
Believe me, not ____ was happy about it!
But that quickly changed once they ____ in.
The students here are energetic, ____, and caring.
They make us ____ and create a joyful mood.
Humanitas was already a decent place to ____ before the students arrived, but it has become a lot more fun since they moved in.
Recently, the students held a pajama party and ____ us to join them.
They taught us how to play some ____ games, and we all had a great time.
It was ____ we were in our 20s again.
I sometimes hear loud music from my young next-door neighbor’s ____, but that is okay.
It’s a ____ matter compared to what they’ve brought to our lives.
I’m grateful ____ day that they have become part of our community.
Speaking of my young neighbor, she ____ been here for more than two years now.
Last year, she ____ through a difficult time of grief after she lost her father, so I did what came naturally.
I stayed with her, held her hands ____ she cried, and listened to what she said.
She later told me that I was a great comfort during that difficult time, which made me feel ____ good.
It ____ feels nice to be reminded that I’m still capable of doing things for others.
I am nearly 100 years old, and I have bad ____.
I understand that my ____ aren’t going to get any better.
There is nothing much the ____ can do about the pain.
But having young, vibrant people around helps me ____ about the pain and enjoy my life!
There are currently six students living at Humanitas, with a long waiting list of others ____ to be offered a spot.
Humanitas is a great example of how people of different ages can help each other and share their lives with one ____.
The older residents gain a ____ youthful perspective on life, while the younger residents receive valuable life lessons.
More and more care homes around Europe are now trying intergenerational living, bringing the young and old ____ in harmony.