Globally, countries are increasingly searching for innovative solutions to tackle their own ageing societal challenge – The Netherlands is offering inspiration.
The Netherlands as inspiration
Why consider the Netherlands as an ‘inspiration’ in tackling ageing societal challenges?
Traditionally GDP expenditure for Dutch Long-Term Care (LTC) is one of the highest in the world: 4.1% attributed to both formal (2.7%) and informal (1.4%) care respectively. Dutch pride in LTC provision comes from its 4-pronged theme approach:
- Prevention,
- Integrated Care,
- Care at Home
- Dementia Care.
This system aims to conserve Carents as a sustainable resource alongside adding ‘Life to Years’ for the patient; a win-win situation.
Prevention
Prevention looks at being proactive rather than reactive. Examples involve care-related strain prevention training programmes where Carents can be taught how to navigate false accusations and stay calm when dealing with Dementia challenges.
Integrated Care
Integrated Care policies aim for comprehensive care to be delivered via succinct professional and informal collaboration: the right care from the right people at the right time and at the right place. Municipalities assign case managers to tailor individual support by streamlining approaches between Carents and GPs. The Rotterdam Stroke Service for example is famously known for its delivery of integrated care for stroke patients.
Care at home
As for Care at Home, there is a shift towards technological innovations to reduce care loads and enhance the efficiency of Carents. So much so that since 2012 pharmaceutical tele-care was added to health insurance packages.
Tessa: a social care robot, is reported to provide the equivalent of 100 mins of homecare per week per patient. It works by providing scheduled verbal cues from either care professionals or Carents to people with Dementia.
The complementary benefits create an independent atmosphere for the patient whilst freeing time; a precious reserve for a Carent.Associated limitations are acknowledged as technology remains an enabler rather than replacement of a Carent.
Dementia Care
Dementia Care: the poster boy for Netherland LTC. For those with Dementia who cannot avoid full time care in a home they can choose the experimental purpose-built villages: to live with Dementia in Freedom (by tanteLouise). The goal one day is for these homes to be found in everyday 21st century communities.
Within these villages patients are free to live semi-independently and leave their living quarters as and when they choose. The no confinement, active-ageing stimulation has shown significant mobility improvements and 90% reduction in mood medication usage. Aside from the physical and cognitive, fiscal benefits are also reported. Thanks to the high LTC spending and in particular on residential facilities, (roughly €80,000 per resident and €13 billion overall per annum) the patient/Carent only has to pay around €100-125 a month.
Future developments
As 94% of all LTC expenditure is funded through the tax system and with 1/5th of the population set to become 65 yrs and older by 2025, the real cost, and the Netherlands dilemma, is the unsustainability of the price.
Sources
BBC (2019). The Documentary – Solving Alzheimer’s – The Trillion Dollar Disease – BBC Sounds. [Accessed 12 May 2024].
Gruber, J., McGarry, K.M. and Hanzel, C. (2023). Long-term Care Around the World.National Bureau of Economic Research.
Kooiker, S., de Jong, A., Verbeek-Oudijk, D. and de Boer, A. (2019). Summary – Foresight study of informal care for elderly people in 2040. The Netherlands Institute for Social Research
NDRC (2021) Chinese National Development and Reform Commission New opportunities to collaborate on elderly care – Holland Flyer.
Vilans (2021). Mapping Dutch Elderly Care Landscape. Collaboration Opportunities for the Dutch Life Sciences & Health sector
