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