The Odensehuis Meppel/Westerveld foundation will soon open a walk-in center in Meppel and Havelte for people with early dementia and their loved ones.
According to Alzheimer Nederland, the number of people with dementia will double in the next 15 years. The disease will also manifest itself at an increasingly younger age.
At present, about 75 percent of people with dementia still live at home and are cared for by their close relatives, the so-called informal carers. More than half of these informal carers are heavily burdened and about 5 percent of them are even overloaded.
When informal carers are no longer able to support someone with dementia, this is an important reason for admission to a nursing home. As a result, the person with dementia is placed ‘outside’ society. By realizing an Odensehuis, an attempt is made to postpone this as long as possible.
An Odensehuis is a free walk-in center because people do not need to make an appointment. There is room for meeting, support, activities and advice. An Odensehuis contributes to the fact that people with dementia can function independently for as long as possible, with the support of informal carers, family and/or friends, and that they can continue to participate in society as much as possible in a pleasant way.
The Odensehuis in Meppel is located in the cultural center De Plataan on the Markstraat (entrance to the library) and in Havelte in the village hall De Veldkei on the Molenweg.
More information can be found on the website www.odensehuismeppelwesterveld.nl