Lesson 3 Let’s Live in Harmony
Humanitas is a yellow brick ____ located in the city of Deventer, the Netherlands.
It is a care center that houses more than 160 elderly ____ who require assistance.
Along with its supportive environment, Humanitas offers something unusual: ____ neighbors.
At Humanitas, elderly residents share their living ____ with university students.
This unique “intergenerational living” ____ began in 2012, after budget cuts reduced the amount of money care homes in the Netherlands received.
This funding reduction led to the loss of many essential elderly care programs, including social, educational, and ____ services.
____ needed to seek an affordable solution to fill the gap left by the removal of these services.
Since the building had numerous empty rooms available, the director ____ 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 high rents, so the proposal was a ____ win-win situation.
Now, let’s hear more about this intriguing place ____ 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 ____.
I’ve ____ enjoyed my time here.
As a live-in student, I’m required to spend at least 30 hours per month with my elderly neighbors in exchange for ____ accommodations.
In reality, ____, we spend a lot more time together than that.
Sometimes I teach them things, such as how to use social media, and ____ times I just hang out with them.
We have meals together, ____ games, and go shopping.
Humanitas doesn’t feel like a care ____ to me.
Instead, I consider it a ____ that I am a part of.
Every time I come home, I ____ my neighbors about my day.
When I have a problem, they ____ 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 little but important things, often ____ realizing it.
For example, I’ve learned the value of having a casual chat over a cup of coffee from ____.
It’s a really great way to ____ a break from rushing around all the time.
I used to feel sorry for the elderly because I ____ only on the things they can’t do.
When I look at ____ now, however, I see all the things they can do.
Obviously, Humanitas provides me with much more ____ a free place to stay.
I’ve made ____, meaningful friendships that I’ll never forget here.
I intend to stay at ____ for at least one more year.
Living here has changed my life in ____ I never thought 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 ____ more that they can teach me.
A Breath of Fresh Air
My ____ is Helena Smit, 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 ____ changed once they moved in.
The students here are ____, friendly, and caring.
They make us laugh and ____ a joyful mood.
Humanitas was already a ____ place to live before the students arrived, but it has become a lot more fun since they moved in.
Recently, the students held a pajama ____ and invited 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 ____ apartment, but that is okay.
____ a small matter compared to what they’ve brought to our lives.
I’m grateful every day that they ____ become part of our community.
Speaking of my young neighbor, she has been here for more than ____ 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 ____ when she cried, and listened to what she said.
She later told me that I was a great ____ during that difficult time, which made me feel very good.
It always ____ nice to be reminded that I’m still capable of doing things for others.
I am nearly ____ years old, and I have bad knees.
I understand that my knees aren’t ____ to get any better.
There is nothing much the ____ can 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 ____ of others hoping to be offered a spot.
Humanitas is a great example of how people of different ____ can help each other and share their lives with one another.
The older residents gain a more youthful perspective on life, while the younger residents receive valuable life ____.
More and more care homes ____ Europe are now trying intergenerational living, bringing the young and old together in harmony.