If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be living with an Irish woman in her mid-80s and going on daily walks together, I would never have believed them.

When I moved to London from Italy seven years ago, at the age of 35, I had a dream: to study graphic design.

At the time, however, I simply didn’t have the financial means to do it. I never imagined that sharing a home with an older woman would make that dream possible. What started as a practical solution ended up becoming something far more meaningful for both of us.

My life in Italy had been comfortable and familiar, but deep inside I felt that I couldn’t truly grow there. When the company I had worked for for 12 years went bankrupt, I saw it as a sign. It was time to change my life. I decided to follow my dream, improve my English, study design, and move to the UK.

When I first arrived, my English was still limited, which made things difficult and restricted my work opportunities. To support myself, I took a job in hospitality. It helped me pay the bills, but after six years, I realised that if I was going to live far away from my family in another country, my time here needed to have a deeper purpose.

I wanted to enrol in an intensive part-time course, but the cost felt overwhelming. Accommodation in London is expensive, and I knew that if I rented privately, I wouldn’t have enough money left to study. I had already tried sharing flats with other people and even renting a small studio, but both options were simply too expensive.

Then a friend suggested something I had never heard of before: homesharing.

It’s an arrangement where an older person opens their home to someone—often a younger person—who provides a small amount of practical help with everyday tasks such as shopping, cooking, or light housework, in exchange for affordable accommodation.

For me, it felt like the perfect solution. It would allow me to save money for my studies, practise my English every day, and experience intergenerational living.

I grew up very close to my grandparents, so I was already comfortable around older people. Still, I had never tried something like this before.

In March last year, the organisation Share and Care Homeshare matched me with a wonderful woman named Flo. She is 84 years old and has some memory problems. I’m 42, so she is exactly double my age.

Before meeting her, I felt a little nervous. I wondered if I might lose my independence. But when I heard that the rent would be very cheap, I was amazed and incredibly happy. Not only could I finally start saving for my course, but the help I would provide was simple—things like cooking, shopping, light cleaning, and spending some time together.

About a month later, I met Flo and her three daughters. From the very beginning, the connection felt natural and warm. Two of her daughters live outside London, and one lives in Italy, so having someone in the house with their mother gave them peace of mind.

The atmosphere was cosy and welcoming. We sat together and talked, and immediately I felt comfortable. One of Flo’s daughters, who lives in Italy, helped break the ice and gave us something in common.

At first, we had a trial period to make sure we got along well. That trial happened just a few weeks before the first lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a way, we were lucky—we met just before everything changed.

I loved living with Flo, and I’ve been here ever since.

At home, we share many simple moments together. We cook meals, drink tea, chat, paint, and sometimes look through old photo albums. We even read books in English and Italian because Flo wants to learn my language, which I find very touching. At the same time, she helps me improve my English.

Flo is a very active and friendly person who loves being around others. She enjoys seeing her friends and family and talking to people when she’s out. Of course, during lockdown, that became much harder, and we both had to find new ways to keep busy.

At the time, I was still working outside the house, so I worried that I might bring the virus home to her. Thankfully, that never happened. Looking back, I often think how fortunate we were to meet when we did—it truly felt like the right moment.

In the beginning, there were challenges, especially because I had never had experience with dementia before. But with the support of Flo’s family and the team at Share and Care Homeshare, everything gradually found its balance.

One of the things Flo and I both love is walking. We often go for strolls in the local park. One day in June, we met a man picking up litter, and it inspired us to do the same.

Flo’s daughter, who lives in Italy, even made us pink waistcoats with a funny coat of arms on the back. It shows two crossed litter-picking sticks and the words “Operatore Ecologico” — meaning “ecological operator.” The jackets always make people smile and often start conversations.

Flo especially enjoys litter-picking because it combines something she already loves: walking.

People in the neighbourhood often stop to chat with us, and sometimes parents with children tell us that what we’re doing inspires them. We’ve even had people waiting at traffic lights roll down their windows and shout, “Well done!” Those moments always make us feel proud.

Living together across generations has had a huge impact on my life. The benefits are not only financial—they are deeply emotional.

I’ve had the chance to experience life inside an English family, which is something that rarely happens when you move abroad. Many people naturally stay close to others from their own country, but this experience allowed me to build a much deeper connection.

Flo has also taught me many expressions, and my English has improved a lot thanks to her. One of my favourites is when she says, “Let’s sit soft,” meaning it’s time to relax on the sofa with a cup of tea.

During the pandemic, living together also supported my mental health. I felt less lonely, more protected, and deeply supported by Flo and her family.

Since then, I’ve been able to enrol in a graphic design course, something I had dreamed about for years. I hope to continue living in a homeshare arrangement for as long as possible. The only reason I might move in the future would be for work opportunities.

For young people who are considering this kind of living arrangement, I would wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s a beautiful way to help someone else while also feeling less alone in a big city. Older generations carry an incredible amount of wisdom and life experience. They can guide and support younger people in many ways, and they also offer something very precious: their time.

Flo has introduced me to her family, her friends, and her neighbours. One day, I even discovered that one of the neighbours next door was actually a director at the company where I was working in hospitality, which made me feel incredibly supported and protected.

Being surrounded by such warm and kind people and the community has meant so much to me, especially while living far away from my own family. And honestly, Flo has a more active social life than I do!

I hope that I have also brought joy into her life and helped her feel safer knowing someone is at home with her.

If I could say something to younger people, it would be this: older people are just like us, but with many more years of experience behind them. They want to feel appreciated, useful, and included in society.

Flo’s daughter has told me how much she appreciates having me around, which means a lot to me. She believes there is great value in her mother continuing to connect with the wider world through relationships like ours. It helps her stay curious, reassured, and full of life.

And what does Flo say about me?

She says that I have become like family to her.

Over time, we have built a beautiful companionship, and homesharing has helped both of us flourish.

– Read the full article on The Metro.

Moving in with a 84-year-old stranger was one of the best decisions of my life