News item | 15-12-2025 | 4:30 PM
Social Work Netherlands, V&VN and the VNG have signed the Main Line Agreement for Elderly Care (HLO). When the agreement was ratified in July, they already supported the direction of the agreement and the coherent package of substantive and financial agreements, but indicated that they wanted to sign in combination with the Supplementary Care and Welfare Agreement (AZWA). The two agreements contain agreements that complement and reinforce each other.
Reduce pressure on elderly care
Elderly people must be able to count on support and care that is available to them when they need it. However, this is under pressure. Due to the aging population, the demand for care is doubling, but the number of care providers is not growing sufficiently. With the agreements in the HLO, the parties are jointly committed to reducing this pressure. For example, by reducing the number of care hours that go to administration in nursing homes. The agreements must also support older people to continue living in their familiar environment for as long as possible, by strengthening the independence of the elderly (reablement) and providing additional support for informal caregivers. And if living at home is no longer possible, a place in the nursing home must be available.
Organizations involved
16 parties actively participated in the realization of the HLO (ActiZ, Seniors Coalition, Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), Verenso, Zorgthuisnl, LOC, Patient Federation of the Netherlands, Social Work Netherlands, Healthcare Insurers Netherlands (ZN), Nurses & Caregivers Netherlands (V&VN), the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa), Healthcare Institute of the Netherlands (ZIN), Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ), CIZ, the CAK and VWS).
The agreement was already signed by a large number of the organizations involved on July 10, 2025. After the establishment of the AZWA, Social Work Netherlands, V&VN and the VNG have now also signed the HLO. In addition, the Government Team (the Dutch Healthcare Authority, the Dutch Healthcare Institute, the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate, the CIZ and the CAK) is closely involved in the implementation.
Supplementary Care & Welfare Agreement
The HLO and the AZWA connect and reinforce each other. For the entire healthcare sector, efforts are being made to reduce administrative burdens and reduce the staff shortage in healthcare. The elderly receive additional support by strengthening facilities in the neighborhood, for example for people with (incipient) dementia. Access to palliative care is also improved.