Seniors, families and students in the same building with shared spaces ... Welcome to an intergenerational residence! In recent years, this type of project has been booming.
At the beginning of January, Bondoufle (Essonne) opened a first. La Courneuve (Seine-Saint-Denis) baptized its own in mid-January. Another will be inaugurated in early March in Guyancourt (Yvelines). Arcueil (Val-de-Marne), Noisy-le-Sec (Seine-Saint-Denis) or even Méru (Oise)… Difficult to be exhaustive as the projects are numerous.
"It's a real village life, we discuss, we help ourselves"
In Cergy (Val-d'Oise), CDC Habitat was one of the first to launch this kind of residence that mixes generations four years ago. "We have 80 homes, 31 are suitable for seniors, 2 for young workers and the rest are for families," says Hugues Devaux, the Closbilles caretaker.
An association of generations that generates good times in the shared room of 100 square meters, on the ground floor: "We have lots of entertainment: the neighbors' party, candlelight, meals, karaoke, Halloween for children… ”, list Marie,“ old woman ”, hat on her head.
"It's a real village life, we discuss, we help ourselves," savored Ludovic - whom everyone here calls "Ludo" -, 51, a cook, who, before moving into the residence, slept in his car.
Fatima, 53, arrived last September. "I did years of social housing and I used to close doors, people who do not speak," she says. Around the traditional Wednesday cafe, his neighbors and now friends agree. Even if they note that some residents are not getting used to it yet: "It's brand new so some people are having a hard time integrating," explains the caretaker. They are more used to being wary of their neighbors. "
Grab bars and light path for seniors
Gérard, 73, a big fan of the Beatles and of Brittany, moved in among the first. "Next to my house, he is a young man, he must be 25 years old," he smiles, guiding us to his apartment, on the 3rd floor.
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Here, all the accommodation (from 300 to 850 euros depending on the surface) is mixed: the studios for young people are in the middle of one-bedroom apartments for seniors, themselves in the middle of three and four-bedroom apartments for families. Gérard is one of the few to enjoy an open kitchen. It has a comfortable 47 square meters suitable for seniors: a light path for moving around at night, electric shutters, grab bars, etc.
"My children are reassured to know that I am surrounded, that there is life around me," he explains. Passionate about gardening - evidenced by the many planters on his balcony - he savored each arrival on sunny days to "work" in the shared garden, with the children of other residents.
"They come to see us, we show them how to do it, how it goes," smiles Yvon, 72 years old. "We have a resident who is 80 years old and who does not want to go to a retirement home because she is well here," explains Hugues Devaux. And the warden says that two tenants, who left a short time ago, are doing everything to return.
On the student side, a free two-room apartment for "hours of conviviality"
Bringing seniors together with young people? The idea is not new. Thus, social landlords have been promoting “intergenerational cohabitation” in their parks for years, a way for them to respond to the under-occupancy of housing and to provide an answer to the elderly who, although fragile, want to stay at home. they.
Domitys, specialist in senior residences, goes even further: "We provide students with a two-room apartment free of charge, during the opening and filling of our residences, in exchange for hours of conviviality", explains Sébastien Gehannin, chief operating officer. An initiative that sometimes continues in larger residences, where an apartment without income does not weigh too much on finances. This year, 40 students will be “recruited” throughout France.
This phenomenon is only at its beginnings. With the increase in life expectancy, and the arrival in the golden age of baby boomers, the needs are growing. The over 65s, who today represent one in five French people, will increase in 2040 to one in four inhabitants, according to INSEE. In 2070, France will even have more than one person over 65 for two people from 20 to 64 years. Intergenerational housing has a bright future ahead of it.
