Héloïse, student in Montpellier, offers a music workshop to residents of a retirement home - N. Bonzom / Maxele Presse

  • In Montpellier, students live in a shared apartment in a retirement home. In exchange, they give a little of their time to the residents.
  • "It's an enrichment for us," says Iris, a student who benefits from it.
  • "It feels good in our daily lives, it really warms the heart," says Hélène, a resident who has just celebrated her 88th birthday. It brings a little youth here! "

"Are we going to sing? In this retirement home in Montpellier, it's time for a snack. Héloïse, a music therapy student, distributed the words of a song by Charles Aznavour to the residents, who devour their four-hour session. "I want Johnny, me!" Exclaims a lady, disappointed that we don't honor her idol. An afternoon (almost) like the others, at the Ehpad Françoise-Gauffier.

Héloïse, student in Montpellier, offers a music workshop to residents of a retirement home - N. Bonzom / Maxele Presse

Here, students live in shared accommodation in accommodation next to the retirement home. In exchange for this apartment at a bargain price (from 180 euros per month, all inclusive, excluding housing assistance), they give their time to the elderly. At least three hours a week. The rest of the time, they are students like the others. They receive, party and have meals delivered "to the roommate". “It's our apartment, as if we were renting elsewhere in Montpellier! "Says Héloïse.

"A bond is created between them and us"

Twenty students benefit from this system, which earned the city an award at the Territoria d'Or in 2018, compared to 11 last year. “We live good times with boarders, board games, shared meals, workshops, for my part, around music, explains Héloïse, in first year at Paul-Valéry University. They are always happy, I think, to see us, to spend time with us. Admittedly, their great age means that sometimes communication is not always easy. Their memory escapes them a little, too, sometimes. But a bond is created between them and us. "

"It's an enrichment for us," says Iris, another young woman who benefits from the device. I study to become a social worker, this experience brings me a lot professionally. This allows me to work on adaptability to the public. "

"We make Triominos"

With Françoise-Gauffier's boarders, we “adore” these neighbors who brighten up their days, through a few musical notes, readings, discussions or simply “a few nice words”. "A little animation like that, it feels good in our daily life, it changes, it really warms the heart," smiles Hélène, a boarder who has just celebrated her 88 years. It brings a little youth here! "I really like it," notes Christian, who does not lose a crumb from La bohème , which echoes in the room. We play a lot together, we make Triominos. "

Example of a student roommate in a #EHPAD of the #CCAS of @montpellier_ Musical entertainment on the piano. @MLMontpellier @Saurel_P @yagueannie pic.twitter.com/Ki5SrJE8gj

- Mayet Frédéric (@MayetFrdric) October 9, 2018

And when the students take off, the links don't fade. Roselyne was hosted at the Ehpad Michel-Belorgeot last year. She regularly took out her guitar at the retirement home, and even gave small private concerts, in the rooms of the most fragile residents, some of whom "receive few visits". "I had fun with them, they are touching, says the Montpellier. Sharing these beautiful moments really allowed me to develop personally. I keep very good ties with certain residents, whom I consider friends. I even found a "granny at heart", and that is the greatest gift of the experience. "

At the start of the next school year, the city plans to boost the number of places in these amazing roommates even further. Seven Ehpad should benefit from the device, against five today. “There is only positive, notes Annie Yague (various left), assistant in charge of social affairs and vice-president of the CCAS. This device contributes to breaking the isolation of the elderly. Because it is not because you are surrounded by nursing staff that you have everything you expect from life. It is a social bond, independent of the usual support. And sometimes self-giving goes the other way. “A resident offered a knitting workshop to students! "

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  • Montpellier
  • Retirement home
  • Student housing
  • Student
  • The elderly
  • Languedoc-Roussillon