Often perceived as a social liability, millions of individuals worldwide grapple with mental health issues amidst insufficient support services. This includes highly vulnerable demographics such as young adults coping with various symptoms impacting their work capacity, and seniors afflicted with dementia, dependent on external aid. This study, however, reframes these groups not as societal liabilities but as unrecognized and misplaced social assets. Conducted at HCare, a pioneering Dutch nursing home renowned for its intergenerational initiatives, this study focused on Highly Vulnerable Young Adults (HVYAs) employed to assist Seniors with Dementia (SwD), to improve the latter's quality of life. Despite contending with their own mental health challenges, encompassing depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and, at times, PTSD, these young adults reported overwhelmingly positive work experiences and substantial personal development.Using the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) as its theoretical framework, this research delves into the coping experience of HVYAs, seeking to unravel the mechanism of this counterintuitive relationship. PVEST, adept at examining highly vulnerable populations, acknowledges human vulnerability while prioritizing an understanding of their perspectives, thereby illuminating their resilience within a multi-layered context. This longitudinal study spanned from 2019 to 2021 and used ethnographic methods, engaging over 50 informants comprising HVYAs and nursing home staff. Findings suggest a mutually beneficial relationship between HVYAs and SwD. Thanks to the assistance of the young adults, SwD exhibited decreased disruptive behaviors and required less medication. The HVYAs experienced productive coping outcomes, encompassing symptom alleviation, heightened self-esteem, and elevated career and educational ambitions within the caregiving domain. Notably, SwD were seen not as liabilities but as a source of unconditional support, fostering a sense of acceptance and value among HVYAs, who derived fulfillment and purpose from their caregiving roles. A deeper examination of the intimate bond between HVYAs and SwD, though initially counterintuitive, unveils how the perceived disruptive traits of SwD fostered a stronger connection between the two groups. HVYAs and SwD share commonalities, including transitional life stages, symptoms, and needs. Furthermore, the study argues that vulnerability is subjective—HVYAs feel empowered in the company of seniors, and their intrinsic drive to aid others fosters a profound commitment to their roles, catalyzing transformative personal growth. Such a relationship, rooted in the unique context of a nursing home, provides a blend of security and flexibility, enabling young adults to find a balance between comfort and challenge at work seldom found elsewhere. Therefore, this study advocates for a shift in mindset: highly vulnerable populations are not inherently liabilities; rather, our ingrained perspective has portrayed them as such. By offering a novel perspective on understanding highly vulnerable populations and advocating for their resilience as untapped social assets, it enriches the study of human development by proposing the possibility of examining different age groups collectively, rather than separately. Furthermore, given the straightforward nature of this relationship, it can be readily implemented in other nursing homes, providing a practical means for addressing the global mental health crisis.