This story is based on an interview with Nanik Tagore, 22, a recent graduate and founder of a private training and coaching business from San Francisco. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I’m half-Indian, and younger people in South Asian countries are raised to have a deep level of respect for their elders.
There’s an expectation of service, whether it’s sitting and listening to stories from their past or something as simple as carrying their groceries from the car.
This sense of responsibility played a big part in my decision to sign up for the platform JoeyCo, an app that matches college students seeking housing with older-generation landlords, known as “hosts.”
The students — named Joeys after baby kangaroos resting happily in their mothers’ pouches — pay an affordable rent for their room. They’re also paid an hourly rate to assist them, whether it’s companionship or doing chores such as gardening.
I interviewed with a couple who have welcomed me into their home. They are Robert Miller, 70, the founder and CEO of a pet wellness company, and his wife, Paige, 72, a retired mental health worker.
Paige, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2023, needs extra help with things like transport and meal prep. I support her for around 10 hours a week.
We plan the week ahead
The salary varies between Joeys, but they paid me $25 an hour when I first moved in as a college sophomore in August 2024. The rate increased to $30 per hour during my second year.
My rent for my bedroom, private bathroom, and kitchenette is $1,750 monthly. I typically recoup $1,200. A studio apartment in San Francisco can cost around $2,800 a month.
We have a weekly “look ahead” meeting where we discuss the schedule, which fits around my work, sports, or studies. It might include me taking Paige to visit friends, shopping, or to the bank.
Meanwhile, Robert will take the time as respite and complete his demanding work.
One of Paige’s favorite activities is going on a long drive somewhere, when she loves looking out the window at the scenery. She’s often pretty quiet, but we have nice conversations, too.
I’ll make her a light meal now and again, usually a sandwich or a salad.
The arrangement works well, particularly because there are clear boundaries on what I can and can’t do. I’m not expected to work over 10 hours a week. And if I do, I’m paid for my time.
The agency acts as an intermediary
By law, I can’t fulfill the role of carer, such as taking Paige to the bathroom or managing her medication.
JoeyCo, which charges hosts $299 a month for its services, including an initial background check and vetting, acts as an intermediary if an issue can’t be solved at home.
I graduated in May and don’t want to return to Sacramento, California, where I grew up. My plan is to stay with the Millers until at least the end of the year.
People often ask me if it’s difficult living with an older couple. I remember lying in my bed on my first night, hearing footsteps upstairs.
“My roommates are basically strangers,” I thought. “It’s weird.”
Still, I adapted to the situation. I’m grateful not to have to deal with the most common problem young people face: finding affordable housing.
I’ve built contacts
Hosts who enjoy the extra income of Joeys tend to be open-minded, high-level professionals or former professionals with strong networks. Robert and Paige have put me in touch with some of their business contacts.
I’m a big fan of intergenerational living. I hope to dispel the myth that Gen Z and boomers can’t get along.
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