Maastricht area plans 30 care zones to tackle loneliness

A new plan by care agencies and insurance companies aims to create 30 residential care zones in the Maastricht-Heuvelland area of Limburg, combining health services, activities and accessible living.

The plan, known as the Deltaplan Maastricht Heuvelland, aims to help older people live independently for longer and receive support and care closer to home, largely to tackle loneliness.

The initiative is a collaboration between municipalities, health insurers, residents, hospitals and elderly care advocacy agencies. Health insurers CZ and VGZ have provided €33.4 million for the project.

Nineteen of the 30 zones are currently under development, and organisers say the rest will be up and running next year.

“We have traditionally been accustomed to looking to nursing homes, but in this way, older people can continue living at home much longer, provided it is responsible,” Petra Lamberts, chair of Deltaplan, told regional news outlet L1.

The zones will also organise more activities, for example in a shared communal living room, to tackle loneliness. “Loneliness is a predictor of the need for care,” Lamberts told broadcaster NOS. “People notice minor ailments sooner when they are alone. When they take part in activities, they are distracted, and they are also encouraged to use their skills.”

Informal carers, such as family members, will also be able to hand over some of their tasks from time to time so they do not become overburdened.

A communal living room recently opened in Valkenburg, where local residents can take part in activities and meet for coffee.

The population of the region is ageing faster than the rest of the country. By 2030, one in four residents of South Limburg will be over 65.

According to Lamberts, a year of home care costs around €12,000, while a year in a nursing home costs more than €100,000.