Hoogeveen care home takes advantage of cuts: ‘This shouldn’t be like this’

Not healthcare professionals, but informal carers. In many nursing homes, family members of residents are already being assigned an increasingly important role. Also in the Jannes van der Sleedenhuis in Hoogeveen, where action was taken today against cuts in elderly care.

It is certainly a pleasant morning, both for Ymie Schergardus and her daughter Elizabeth. The latter is coming to help in the nursing home in Hoogeveen today, now that the majority of the staff is taking action in The Hague. Nice, but not the intention. “It shouldn’t become a habit,” says Ymie. She certainly does not want her daughter – in addition to her job and her family life – to be forced to work hours in the Jannes van der Sleedenhuis.

But if the planned reductions in healthcare go ahead, there is certainly a chance. “We would already like to spend more time on one-on-one contact with residents,” says employee Alycha Blokzijl. “If we don’t have enough staff, we can’t provide the care we want to provide.”

Informal carers are already called upon for certain activities, says Blokzijl. But when it comes to care, professionals are highly desired. “And some informal carers are also overburdened. It is not self-evident for them to come here, but it is sometimes necessary.”

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