Willem Bakker from Westwoud, together with the initiators of ‘Stop neglect of the elderly’ in The Hague, presented a petition to various MPs this afternoon. As chairman of Stichting Ouderennetwerk West-Friesland, he advocates better care for vulnerable elderly people and the construction of 10 to 11 homes for the elderly per residential area in the Netherlands. “‘Why do we have to live on?’, some elderly people ask me.”
Bakker has been committed to vulnerable elderly people for years. Or rather: for improving the quality of life. “Especially for the people who desperately need care. Often someone comes from, for example, De Omring or Wilgaerden. And they leave after two minutes, because they don’t have time. And then we’re talking about the generation that first has the youth lost to the Second World War and then ensured the reconstruction of the Netherlands. This is your thanks.”
Bakker sometimes sees harrowing cases around him. “Rheumatism patients with crooked fingers who have to put on support stockings themselves, for example. Because there is no one else there. I see neglect and a lot of sadness around me. “Why do we have to live on?”, some elderly people ask me. answer to.”
Neglect
Together with Liesbeth Schoenman of the citizens’ initiative ‘Stop neglecting the elderly’, he handed over 1,400 signatures. This club wants the frail elderly to receive the care they need in a protected, safe place. “We want these vulnerable elderly people not to be treated under and with force. Not to be exposed or controlled by digitization and robotization. This is inhumane,” the website reads.
The cutbacks in healthcare are particularly bad for Bakker and his fellow fighters. “Many elderly people get into terrible trouble in this way,” says Bakker. In the reception hall of the House of Representatives, a long roll of wallpaper was rolled out on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of politicians from the SP, PvdA, PVV and Caroline van der Plas of BBB. “It contained photos of people who are on the waiting list for a nursing home. Below that were photos of people who died due to a lack of care. When they saw that, it was quiet for a while.”
So more and personal care. But Bakker also advocates the construction of more homes for the elderly. It should be 11 or 12 per core. Starting in West Friesland. “But this can also apply to the whole of the Netherlands. The point is that the elderly can live together, there will also be a common room and that care will be guaranteed.”
flow
Municipalities could organize this on their own. “The arrival of these homes also ensures a flow on the housing market, because the owner-occupied houses are sold. For example, first-time buyers can finally get a house. So I would say: go, that shovel in the ground.”
After the meeting with politicians, Bakker got back into the car satisfied. “The politicians thought we had good points. And Van der Plas wants to stay in touch with me, she said. I think we have achieved a lot for the moment.”