New program for elderly care: more digital, more at home and more self-directed | news item

News item | 04-07-2022 | 08:47

According to the various parties in the care of the elderly, care for the elderly must be organized differently. Today’s elderly are more vital and live longer, even with chronic illnesses. They want and can be independent for longer than the elderly of a generation ago. They want to have more control over their lives and if they need care, they want care not to determine their lives, but for care to support them in continuing to do their own things.

Moreover, it is expected that due to the aging population, more and more people will rely on elderly care in the coming years. At the same time, the number of people working in care and the number of informal carers will not increase at the same rate. That means if we continue to keep elder care as it is, some people won’t get the care they need. That is why care must be organized differently.

New standard

With the WOZO programme, the various parties in the elderly care sector are setting a new standard: even if possible, at home if possible and digitally if possible. The parties in elderly care are working towards elderly care and support in which the elderly are as self-reliant as possible by (re)learning skills, staying fit, using aids and help from the environment.

The basic principle is also that healthcare is delivered digitally if possible. Whether it concerns video calls with the district nurse, a robot that reminds you with a voice about taking medication or a sensor that alerts the nurse if you have fallen; innovation can increase the quality of care and relieve care providers.

And finally, the starting point is to live at home, unless that is no longer possible. To this end, suitable housing must be made available for the elderly and good, appropriate care must be provided at home. The aim of the WOZO program is to initiate a change in the coming years that will make this new standard a reality throughout the Netherlands.

Minister Helder: “I am in a hurry. The staff shortages are already an issue and will continue to be an issue in the future. At the same time, I see that today’s care can match the needs of today’s elderly even better. That is why it is so important that we now organize elderly care differently. I am happy that I can do this together with the sector. Many of them are already working on these changes, serving as an example and inspiration for the rest of the country.”

Financial impulse

The WOZO program contains more than € 770 million to make investments over the next five years that will enable the elderly to live at home longer, remain self-reliant for longer and make greater use of technological innovation. This money is used, among other things, to realize suitable homes for the elderly where they can also receive care and to strengthen care and support in the neighborhood. On top of this, the cabinet has reserved even more money to support the transition in elderly care, and will decide at a later date how that money can best be used.

At the same time, organizing care differently also means that care for the elderly will become less labour-intensive and will therefore also cost less. But on balance there will be more available for elderly care in the coming years. For example, in 2022 we will spend €15.6 billion on care for the elderly, and in 2026 this will be €17.2 billion.

Subsidy schemes, coaches and extra homes

Now that the program has started, the ministry is working out the various measures and initiatives that fall under the program together with the partners. For example, there will be a subsidy scheme to realize homes where the elderly and young people live together, so-called intergenerational living. There will also be coaches who help healthcare institutions to properly deploy and scale up technological innovations within their organization and a subsidy scheme for the use of health technology at home.

Together with the Minister for Housing and Spatial Planning, the aim is to build or renovate 170,000 zero-step homes and 80,000 clustered homes especially for the elderly by 2030, as part of the total new-build task in the Residential Building programme. Minister Helder also wants to realize 50,000 homes for the elderly with a more intensive care demand. There may be an overlap between these categories. Minister Helder will work out these plans together with Minister De Jonge for Housing and Spatial Planning in the coming months. There must be sufficient places in the nursing home for people who are dependent on the nursing home. Furthermore, the WOZO program wants to adjust various rules and agreements to ensure that care can be organized as well as possible at home, and communication activities are being developed to help older people prepare for aging. For all actions that fall under the programme, see the letter that was sent to the House about this.

Together with partners from the elderly care sector

The WOZO program was established after intensive discussions and with contributions from numerous organisations. These are:

• the Senior Citizens’ Coalition (ANBO, KBO-PCOB, NOOM, Umbrella Pensioners)
• Patient Federation Netherlands
• LOC
• Alzheimer Netherlands
• NLTake care of each other
• Dutch Organizations Voluntary Work (NOV)
• Informal careNL
• Nurses and carers in the Netherlands (V&VN)
• Verenso
• National Association of General Practitioners (LHV)
• In a
• Social Work Netherlands (SWN)
• Better Old
• Aedes
• care homeNL
• ActiZ
• Health insurers in the Netherlands (ZN)
• Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG)
• Center for Assessment Care (CIZ)
• Healthcare Institute Netherlands (ZIN)
• Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa)