ZorgErf Buiten-Land has been around for fifteen years: not care, but life is central to a small-scale day care center for dementia – De Puttenaer

May 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM

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WELLS René and Yvonne van der Leest want to celebrate the anniversary with all the residents of Putten. Their adventure started fifteen years ago in Nijkerk with a day care center for people with dementia. Five years later, ZorgErf Putten was added. This location provides 24/7 care to people with dementia.

ZorgErf Buiten-Land is now a household name in the surrounding area, employs one hundred and thirty people and employs approximately one hundred volunteers. 48 people live there and another 130 people use the daytime activities, they come to enjoy everything the care yard has to offer during the day.

LIFE TO THE FULL

René and Yvonne look back. “In Nijkerk we bought a house in a rural area on a dead end road and made plans for the future. We wanted a small-scale daytime activity for elderly people with dementia in this rural location. We wanted people to cook for themselves, take care of animals and maintain their own vegetable garden. We wanted to make them feel useful and needed. Don’t focus on care, but on life. At that time there was no outdoor space for this target group. When our neighbors wanted to sell their house, we bought it. This made our plans bigger. In order to fully focus on this, we stopped working,” says Rene. “We held a presentation for employees of Movement 3.0 and many critical questions were asked. Our first three employees Wendy, Wilma and Henny saw a lot of obstacles on the road and thought that nothing could ever happen in this place in the middle of nowhere. Still, they got in and think it’s the best job they’ve ever had. We have done a lot together. And everything always turned out fine.” Yvonne adds: “In regular care, objections are considered. What could go wrong. We mainly look at what is possible and thereby add a lot of quality and joy of life. Of course we provide the care that is needed, but living fully with dementia is central. Fifteen years ago we were pioneers, now it has become common practice.”

LIFE FOCUS

René continues: “People with dementia can no longer think of what they like to do and what they find important. We are the engine that gets them ‘on’ and we actively offer that.” Yvonne adds: “Efficiency and the system are not central here. No, life is central. For example, if we go to the market and come home a little later, we simply eat a little later. That’s okay. We do the housework together. This makes the residents feel useful. There is a reason to stand up. By merely caring you deprive people of a lot. The residents of the courtyards take away their own waste, take bread from the freezer, take leftovers to the pigs and the glass to the bottle bank. Very normal things that are organized away in the regular healthcare system.”

René and Yvonne have beautiful memories. “The dynamics of this place have proven to be good. We have created a lively place and make full use of the facilities of the yard. We stroll around the yard, we feed the animals, we drink coffee and something tasty in the LandHuus or we sit in the sun. We also take regular trips.”

“Don’t doze off together, but see where we can end up together. Our vision is now also scientifically substantiated.”

“After people have been here, they often ask if they can make a reservation for later. You only understand the care yard once you have been there. That is why we invite everyone to our anniversary tour on May 18 at 11 a.m..” You can register via email: [email protected]. Address: Veenwaterweg 3b Putten.