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Mihaela from Jesenice and Brigita from Radenci
are not typical retirees.
Right after her retirement, Mihaela, a biology teacher,
enrolled in two faculties and graduated with success.
I wish to encompass as much as possible
with my presence and activity.
Upon retirement, 90-year-old Brigita,
a former bank clerk, dedicated herself to writing.
A computer replaced her typewriter
and her friend Biserka showed her that the Internet can be great.
I invited Biserka for a visit.
I offered to make coffee and strudel,
but she was not to bother me with the Internet.
But I suddenly had a lot of time after moving into a home.
When they were asked to participate in a project
where retirees from different retirement homes in Slovenia
change places for a few days, they liked the idea.
Exchanges are everywhere.
Why not also organize them between retirement homes?
The active life stage is not over
when you move into a retirement home,
says the manager of Mihaela's home in Jesenice.
It is something wonderful and completely new.
I hope Mihaela's experience will motivate other residents
to live an active life and decide to leave their home for a few days.
Her view is shared by the manager of Brigita's home in Radenci.
Many retirees cannot afford to travel.
Also, some of them need continuous health care.
Such exchanges are ideal for those who wish to travel
and gain new experience despite their age.
The future generation of seniors
in retirement homes will wish for more than the current one.
As service providers, we should adapt and prepare activities
suited for the generation to come.
Last week, Mihaela, once a keen traveler,
packed her suitcase once again.
Brigita Živec informed her friends of her absence by e-mail,
and drove to Jesenice.
She browsed the new schedule on her smartphone,
while Mihaela was awaiting her.
I am not familiar with Prekmurje,
so I would be happy to visit the region.
Brigita was becoming nervous as she was approaching Jesenice.
No need to be nervous, but it is normal, we are all a bit excited.
Everybody gathered to greet their new neighbor.
Even their cat Miki observed the unusual event with surprise.
Hello, I am Anže, a nurse.
While Mihaela was driving to Radenci,
Brigita took a look at her new room.
It is beautiful. Thank you.
Excited, she could not imagine how to fit everything
into just a few days.
I had to browse my iPhone four or five times.
Bingo, presents, lunches, meetings, choir...
Exchanges are not limited to Slovenia,
says Tomaž Lorenzetti. He and Marko Guèek
created the LinkedAge project.
Last year, they signed a contract with the E.D.E.
which includes 32,000 European retirement homes.
After setting up a network in Slovenia, they will go abroad.
The main destinations are Spain, France, Germany and Croatia.
We also cooperate with bigger organizations and associations
working on active-aging projects.
They provide us a possibility to enter global markets.
Mihaela received a warm welcome in Radenci despite the late hour.
By means of LinkedAge, she might someday fulfil
her desire of travelling abroad.
It would be great. I could visit museums.
There would be works made by people of ultimate greatness,
so I will quite envy those who will travel abroad.
Not only exchanges, alternative tourist offer
could also include vacancies in retirement homes
and sheltered accommodation, says Lorenzetti.
Our aim is to help the elderly become more active,
independent and mobile. We wish them to live a quality life.
There are many empty sheltered apartments
and vacancies in retirement homes,
says Boris Koprivnikar,
manager of the Association of Social Institutions of Slovenia.
They could also be a solution.
Fixed costs of a retirement home
are basically the same if beds are occupied or not.
Residents must cover also the costs of unoccupied beds,
so we should find a way to fill the vacancies.
Demand is high, says the manager of the retirement home in Radenci,
a public facility with a private section.
We discussed an exchange with a Scandinavian country
where it is very dark during half of the year.
A half-year stay in sunny Slovenia
would be considered a higher standard of living.
Not only foreigners, many Slovenes would also rather
spend holidays in retirement homes than in hotels.
says the manager of a private retirement home
in Kranjska Gora.
This apartment could be one to offer.
Two ladies have already used it by means of a LinkedAge exchange.
They spent a weekend here and were very satisfied.
Those in need of a retirement home must come before the tourist offer.
That is why they are establishing clear rules.
Homes must provide proof of unoccupied vacancies
and lack of demand inside the public sector
by providing empty waiting lists and demand inquiries.
I believe it is a benefit to occupy those vacancies.
After her short holidays, Mihaela is full of impressions.
She visited the Mura river, Murska Sobota and its library,
and made many new friends.
It was like going abroad.
I experienced emotions towards everything around me.
Her roommate also enjoyed Mihaela's stay.
She was a nice and cheerful roommate.
We had a great time, right? - Yes.
Everyone were moved upon her departure.
These are my new friends.
We will continue being friends.
Yes, we will stay friends.
If I ever feel sad, I will think of them
and send them a letter.
Everybody greeted Brigita at her return.
The reception was grand.
How was your stay? - Excellent. - So was mine.
Moved and full of impressions Brigita headed to her room.
I had to live 90 years to experience that.
Meeting a friend she could so far only contact by e-mail,
visiting a lake in Kranjska Gora, and celebrating her birthday.
She joked that she now needs a vacation,
as there was so much going on.
Now I need to organize everything in my mind
so that all these events stay in my memory.
Next time she wishes to visit the coast.
LinkedAge connects almost half of retirement homes in Slovenia,
so she might soon start a new trip.