Henk(75)

My wife Annie passed away in 2022. After fifty years of marriage I was alone in our house in The Hague. My daughter Linda has lived in Stockholm for ten years with her Swedish husband and two grandchildren. She called every day, but it wasn't enough. When Linda suggested moving to Stockholm, I thought: at my age? But why not?

As a retired EU citizen over 65, you must demonstrate to Migrationsverket that you have sufficient income and a hälsoförsäkring (health insurance). My state pension and occupational pension combined were more than enough. Linda helped me with the paperwork. Folkbokföring at Skatteverket took eight weeks — longer than average, but it worked.

With my personnummer I could register at the local vårdcentral (health center). The Swedish healthcare system for elderly people is excellent. The högkostnadsskydd limits my annual healthcare costs to 1,300 SEK. Medications cost a maximum of 2,850 SEK per year thanks to läkemedelsförmånen. In the Netherlands I paid multiple times that with my supplementary insurance.

I live in a seniorboende (senior housing) in Bromma, close to Linda. The apartment is adapted for the elderly: no thresholds, grab bars in the bathroom and an alarm button. Rent is 8,200 SEK per month, partly subsidized by Stockholm municipality. Every weekday I walk to Linda's to pick up the grandchildren from school — the highlight of my day.

Integration at my age was a challenge. I don't speak Swedish and at my age you don't learn as quickly. But Linda translates where needed, and many institutions have English-speaking staff. The dagverksamhet (day activities) at the local äldrecentrum is a lifeline — I participate in painting classes and a walking group, even though we communicate with hands and feet.

I miss The Hague: the Hofvijver, Scheveningen, the Mauritshuis. But I miss Annie more, and in Stockholm I have family around me. Swedish nature is comforting — I regularly sit on a bench by Lake Mälaren while the grandchildren play. The Swedish care system gives me the certainty that I'll be well cared for when needed. At seventy-five I've found a new home.