Françoise and Zineb: a friendship that redefines cohabitation

Arrived in Albi for an apprenticeship, Zineb, a student of engineering, was looking for housing. She is interested in the formula of housing in exchange for services, which is not expensive. Thanks to a company, she gets in touch with Françoise, a sexagenarian, suffering from Parkinson’s disease. On the advice of a friend, the latter agrees to host the Moroccan student at her home in exchange for 75 euros. "I told myself that I could try. I tried and I won," she laughs, looking affectionately at Zineb. Their first meeting was a success. "It was an immediate match," says the student. "It was gluttony that brought us together." Zineb tasted a dish prepared by Françoise. The latter received chocolate cakes from the Moroccan region.

Cooking will remain one of their topics of discussion. "She makes me good couscous, I made her try raclette, the sexagenarian explains. Three times you helped yourself to raclette!" Another area of interest: music. "She introduced me to a lot of names I didn’t know and really enjoyed," Zineb details. "I introduced her to Moroccan music and music from my generation." In two years, the two women have become friends. They take care of each other. "Françoise wakes Zineb up - with a cowbell! - when she can’t get up. Zineb helps her comb her hair, and brings her tablet to her in bed every night," says La Dépêche du Midi.

The Moroccan student also takes care of daily services such as showering, evening meals. A housekeeper takes care of household chores, shopping and the midday meal. Zineb will soon move to Toulouse, "where she plans to find a job." "We’re getting divorced," Françoise says jokingly. The distance will separate the two friends, but they will visit each other often. Zineb and Françoise, a perfect example of intergenerational cohabitation - a mutual aid solution that allows a senior over 60 with a free room to host a young person who provides a caring presence and performs small services in exchange for free or moderate rent.