Wim (93), who became national news when he escaped from a care home, died

In June 2020, the then 89-year-old Wim van Duin became national news when he ‘fled’ his care home in ‘t Zand during the corona pandemic to go for a bike ride. The home was completely sealed to keep the virus out. As a result, residents were also not allowed to go outside. Wim didn’t accept that and went outside anyway. Result: he had to be in isolation for two weeks. It resulted in a storm of criticism. He died on Saturday.

In his working life, Wim van Duin was a farm worker and once at the nursing home in ‘t Zand (where he came because his wife with dementia could no longer live at home) he tended the garden of the care center. Wim, then 89, was a vital man, his daughter Jolanda told NH in 2020. “He cycled 25 kilometers every day. Unless the weather was bad, of course. He walked five kilometers every day and went to a fitness class once a week.”

When the corona crisis broke out, the care staff did what they could to keep people happy. Wim was given the exercise bike by the physiotherapist in his room, so that he could continue to exercise. He also tried to walk as much as possible in his room. Everything to stay fit, so that he could go outside sportingly as soon as the doors opened again.

Independent

But it went on and on and on. And Wim couldn’t stand being inside anymore. He wanted to go out on his own for once. On a Monday morning in May 2020, at 6:30 am, he seized his opportunity. He had been riding his bike freely for an hour, but someone had seen him. Strict action was taken: Wim had to be isolated for two weeks.

When NH broke the news, a storm of criticism broke out. His daughter called on care centers and the government to deliver customization when it came to the corona rules, and not to tar all elderly people with the same brush. “My father feels treated like a little child,” she said at the time. “He hadn’t met anyone at all, plus it was early in the morning.” National media covered the news and his daughter also told her story, among others ‘Beau’.

Jolanda and other loved ones of residents of the Zandstee nursing home fought for more flexible rules of conduct (video from the summer of 2020; text continues below):

And not for nothing, because Jolanda’s efforts have indeed led to changes. “De Zandstee was one of the first care centers to deal with the corona rules more flexibly in the summer,” told Jolanda at the end of 2020. “Woongroep Samen is now at the forefront of looking for solutions. The incident with my father has contributed to this.”

Wim lived in the nursing home in ‘t Zand until his death and continued cycling until the end. He died on Saturday at the age of 93. The funeral service is Thursday.