Herberg Grootenhout stands for double vacation. Holiday for their guests with dementia and vacation for their loved ones; They get free from their care task, but also have the opportunity to stay as a guest in the inn. The holiday feeling is completed with all kinds of steps and activities, such as hugging with pigs.
Bert van Duijnhoven was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s more than a year and a half ago. Since then his wife Loes has been a caregiver day and night. “You are already emotionally an end of saying goodbye, because you no longer have the partner you had and you are just worried,” says Loes, while Bert is shouting with other guests of Herberg Grootenhout. Bert is on holiday at Grootenhout for a week. “This inn is beautiful. They have a lot of fun here. And that is nice, because we have not been on vacation since the diagnosis,” says Loes.
A holiday atmosphere for people with dementia
“Where care hotels are sometimes some clean and white, we have created a pleasant holiday feeling here in this old farmhouse,” says initiator Joep van Hove. Herberg Grootenhout is one of the first Alzheimerlogements in the Netherlands, where even people with a self-employed 5 indication (people suffering from a serious form of dementia) can go. “We walk a lot with the guests, play games and will soon also organize an activity with piglets hugging. These are trips and activities that you normally also do on holiday, where cosiness is always paramount,” says Joep.
Informal carers also benefit
The idea of Herberg Grootenhout is not only to give guests a good time, but also to relieve caregivers. “Research shows that informal carers will maintain it longer if they themselves can also take off occasionally,” Joep explains.
Innovative care concept
The inn is part of Grootenhout elderly estate, to which several healthcare institutions are connected. This estate is known for its innovative approach in healthcare, such as organizing trips for people with dementia. In many other settings this is difficult due to bureaucratic hassle. Grootenhout therefore performs an exemplary function. Where the costs of a holiday with a demented often form a big obstacle, a holiday at Herberg Grootenhout is often free. In many cases, the costs are fully reimbursed through the Long -Term Care Act (Wlz). Only a small personal contribution for outings or a terrace remains at the expense of the guests.
Moments with animals
“We try to create the holiday feeling as much as possible for guests. They often love animals and stroking pigs and caring is really an experience,” says Joep while standing between the pigs. Bert walks through the stable with one of the piglets, while another guest remembers how they used to have pigs at home. “Most of the time my father threw a handful of food in the stable and now I am here just like then,” she says with a smile.
Pork farmer John Rooijakkers is enthusiastic about the activity. “People with dementia often go back to their youth and the time of the past. Here they experience how pigs were held years ago. And for some people feel that when coming home. You immediately see how they react to the animals.”
Not everyone likes the pigs equally, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. “That there is really ugly, just like andré hazes,” An laughing. Joep looks around satisfied: “Maybe they will no longer know that they have been here, but in this stable with the pigs we have created a real moment of happiness.”
