Balen Social Welfare Office
Residential Care Facility Ter Vest
About “our” house
– Remembrance of things past looms larger than the present for most occupants
– The future is “near”
– Sharing remembrance with other occupants helps to carry the burden of ageing
– “The past” was different and many people feel it was also better
– The past is mostly connected to the last place of residence but one
– The capability of finding one’s bearings is vitally important for people who are losing their sense of time and distance
– Finding one’s bearings usually starts with a reliable point: in this case “our house”
– “The street where we used to live” is for many elderly people like us that ultimate point of contact with reality
– The locating of the names on the street plan will be a point of wholesome discussion:
Maria used to live here, and Karel and Jef there…
Is this spot the Langvennen or the Holsterberg?
– The house will also remain a token of remembrance of the former neighbours
– In this way the building will grow more on them as “their” house
– In each unit there will be a map with the names of the inhabitants
– This map will be affixed by Jef Geys at the occupation.
18 November 2010
JEF GEYS
vertaling; Prof. Dr. Joris Duytschaever
