Getting back in touch with people, away from chaos and turmoil

Anyone arriving at the ‘Gezondheidspark’ (Health Park) in Hengelo will see the construction of a new building between the locations’ Het Borsthuis’ and ‘Het Hof van Trivium MeulenbeltZorg’. Part of this new building will house the new D-ZEP department. This term is used nationally for Dementia and Very Serious Problem Behaviour. The new department, the Weidedorp ward, is a temporary residence for people within this group. 

Francisca Rink is a project advisor at Trivium MeulenbeltZorg. In her position, she is involved in setting up the new department. She says: “D-ZEP patient care involves complicated and far-reaching problems. From the 1st of December, it will be possible to temporarily transfer someone to the Weidedorp ward. The new ward is specially equipped to add or remove stimuli. In this environment, the care will be aimed at optimising the situation so the client/resident can return to their original residence.

Jorieke te Lintelo started as manager for this new department in June. She has been involved in setting up the team from the start. “We are now further setting up the department together,” she says. She immediately got excited when she saw the new department manager vacancy. “Seeing the individual is key in this. It’s about how you get back in touch with the person that matters in the chaos and turmoil. That is what so much comes down to. And we do this with the strong intention of doing what is helpful for the individual. In doing so, we also pay attention to the client’s loved ones.” 

The new department also results in even more room for new talent. Jorieke and Francisca are busy selecting new staff for the department. They are recruiting for a.o. the vacancies Verzorgende IG (Assistant Nurse), MBO verpleegkundige (VET Nurse), HBO verpleegkundige (HVE Nurse), persoonlijk begeleider (personal support worker) en coördinerend begeleider welzijn (coordinating supervisor for well-being). According to Francisca and Jorieke, the combination of Nurses, Assistant Nurses, and Guidance Counsellors is essential for setting up the new team. “If you have a mix of people with those backgrounds, you have something valuable,” says Jorieke. “It’s about them seeing the human being and connecting from that perspective.” “And also about them seeing beyond just the problem behaviour,” Francisca adds.

Several information meetings have been organised in recent months. “The enthusiasm for these meetings was huge,” says Francisca. “For instance, we received about 50 registrations for the first meeting. The other two D-ZEP wards in Goor (Carintreggeland) and Enschede (Liberein) will be opened in 2024.

D-ZEP Alliance Twente is working on opening one specialised ward for clients with dementia and (very) severe problem behaviour within each organisation (Carintreggeland, Liberein and TMZ). These wards must meet many requirements and are specifically adapted for people with this specific care requirement.

Within Trivium MeulenbeltZorg (TMZ), over 2,600 employees and 1,600 volunteers are working hard to offer elderly and chronically ill people excellent and personal care. In modern and sustainable residential care facilities and people’s homes, TMZ offers, among other things, nursing, aid in personal care, guidance, and personal alarm systems. TMZ operates in the municipalities of Almelo, Borne, Enschede, Hengelo, Tubbergen, and Twenterand. The relationship and cooperation between clients, informal carers, volunteers, and professionals is fundamental to us. Together, we provide care and make care personal. 
Find more information at www.triviummeulenbeltzorg.nl.