The sick Gert-Jan Jonker (67) from Etten-Leur is completely overloaded with reactions and statements of support, after he cried out for help due to a lack of home care. Because there are often few staff to help him due to budget cuts, he sleeps in his wheelchair at home because he cannot climb into his bed. And that concerns many people. Sobbing, he talks about the reactions.
Gert-Jan has been in a wheelchair for several years because he struggles with his health. He has problems with his back, heart and kidneys and he can hardly take care of himself. He needs help getting in and out of bed and making dinner.
Gert-Jan receives this a few times a week, in the form of home care. But due to the major shortages in healthcare, he often feels left to his fate. Then there is no one to put him to bed at the end of the day or to get him out of bed the next morning. And he doesn’t blame home care itself, but the government does.
“In total I have had something like 3000 e-mails.”
On Friday, Gert-Jan told his story to Omroep Brabant and that was a true cry for help. “And then I collapsed,” he says emotionally. It was very confrontational. “When I saw myself again, I felt so much sadness. Then I completely broke.”
Many people feel great sympathy for him, which caused a flood of reactions. They are all people who wanted to say that they recognize the story, because they saw it with loved ones or had experienced it themselves. Or that it is ridiculous that this is happening in the Netherlands and that it is time to take action. But also the question whether they could help Gert-Jan, for example at home.
“I’ve had about 3,000 e-mails in total,” he says. “Even from two ladies who offered to help me get in and out of bed, I’m in touch with them now.” Then tears stream down his cheeks. “Incredible, so sweet.”
READ ALSO: Gert-Jan sleeps in his wheelchair at night: ‘No home care to help’
2023-07-31 08:53:53
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