Students providing some companionship to elderly in homes

[Anonymous]

.. in exchange for housing.

The Dutch are experimenting with this. Similar programs have been implemented around Europe. I wonder if we could do that here?

It would address housing issues for students, and companionship for lonely elderly people. Of course, a lot of vetting needs to happen. Or are we too much of a sue happy country for this type of arrangement to exist?

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/dutch-retirement-home-offers-rent-free-housing-students-one-condition

[Anonymous]

I think we are probably too litigious for this to happen, and our children aren't raised well enough in general to fulfill their end of this, but it is a very nice idea.

[Anonymous]

If you live near a university, you can always rent out a spare room and bathroom, no?

The rent can be negotiated in exchange for help.

[Anonymous]

I don't think we, as Americans, are good enough people to do this. I think too many of us would abuse, rape, and steal from the elderly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you live near a university, you can always rent out a spare room and bathroom, no?

The rent can be negotiated in exchange for help.

But, you wouldn't have staff oversight like you would at a care facility.

[Anonymous]

I have thought that we need little commune type communities. Small community with houses and condos or dorms. A community center with a cafeteria. Meal plans available, like on a college campus. A drop in daycare, where parents/seniors could volunteer to babysit. Volunteers could check in on the elderly. If you volunteer in some regard, you get a discount on rent or food or something. The 'village' that we always hear that is needed to raise kids.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn’t work here. We’re too selfish and don’t care about old people. We forget that one day we all will be.

[Anonymous]

Would you rather live in a dorm with friends where there is plenty of excitement and get an easy side job (plenty of them in college) or be a companion to an elderly person who may not be pleasant or gracious? Often the more social ones who have a zest for life are more open to a residential facility because they can make friends everywhere and don't want to a burden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have thought that we need little commune type communities. Small community with houses and condos or dorms. A community center with a cafeteria. Meal plans available, like on a college campus. A drop in daycare, where parents/seniors could volunteer to babysit. Volunteers could check in on the elderly. If you volunteer in some regard, you get a discount on rent or food or something. The 'village' that we always hear that is needed to raise kids.

Plenty of us had parents/grandparents who were immigrants and established this sort of thing and it rarely works the way you dream. Heck when I had my first child our neighbors thought they would establish this. Elderly mom was moving in with them and they kept trying to push her on me to babysit my newborn while I was there and when I needed to run errands in exchange for companionship and occasionally taking her on excursions. The woman was feeble and uninterested in babies and I was too exhausted to provide free babysitting for an elderly person. Then they tried to set me up checking on her for free and being her emergency contact while they were at work. I let them know there are services that do this. I had a newborn with medical needs and was barely sleeping. I was too wiped out.

The village works when you have a bunch givers, but sadly it often attracts takers and users. Just form your own village. I have done that. We truly help eachother and it isn't some government setup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we, as Americans, are good enough people to do this. I think too many of us would abuse, rape, and steal from the elderly.

Are you OK? Please get help.