Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:32

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After a recent family gathering, my teenage daughter mentioned how much she enjoys sitting with the adults and listening to the stories we tell. She added that our stories are more interesting than whatever her cousins had going on. I chuckled to myself as I remember being very much the same way at her age. I thrived on the wisdom I gained from the stories my parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents shared, and they seemed to enjoy the perspective of the younger generation. It reminded me of a news story my aunt shared with us.

In 2012, the Dutch government cut care for seniors aged 80 and older. Around the same time, a Dutch student had grown tired of the noise and poor conditions in his university’s student residence. So, the student went to a company that owned retirement homes to propose a win-win situation: rent-free living for him and an extra set of hands to help the residents. It worked out so well that the company’s managing director created a program and has extended it to six university students to live at their facility rent-free in exchange for 30 hours “acting as good neighbors” each week. Being good neighbors means that the students volunteer to cook dinner, run errands, play games, and host classes for the residents to learn about social media, FaceTime, and Google. The results have been a strengthened community, better health and well-being among the elderly, and a long waitlist of students who want to take advantage of this program. It has gained so much traction that it is now available throughout Europe and has even made it to the United States in Ohio!

What makes this program successful is the community it creates among the residents. Each age group is at a point in their lives where they live among each other in shared housing. While each age group can survive perfectly fine independently of the other, when they are together, they both benefit greatly. They form a support system, an extension of family.  

In an interview, the managing director said that it gives residents something to talk about besides what’s ailing them. The students bring in the outside world and warmth to the home. The elders feel like kids again because they are learning new things and have increased social interaction, enriching their lives. Perhaps part of the reason these two age groups are so drawn to one another is the shared experience of loneliness. Young adults in college and older adults who are retired report some of the highest rates of loneliness and isolation. Bringing them together has alleviated some of these feelings and enabled them to forge relationships that help them thrive.

As God intended, when we live in community and love and support one another, everyone benefits. 

Next Steps

Pray for our seniors to feel loved and supported by others and for God’s guidance in supporting the elders in your life or community.