Tears of happiness at ‘s Heeren Loo

Almost all clients and a large part of the employees of ‘s Heeren Loo have been vaccinated against the Corona virus. This means that ‘s Heeren Loo can implement easing in phases. After more than 14 months of daytime activities at the home, the daytime activities locations of ‘s Heeren Loo in Tiel and Geldermalsen have been reopened.

Tiel / Geldermalsen – A huge milestone! The reopening was celebrated with streamers and cream cake. Both clients and employees are happy to be back at their trusted location; there were even tears of happiness on opening day!

Daytime activities at the home
From April last year, the daycare locations of ‘s Heeren Loo were closed due to Corona. Clients were given daytime activities on the home for more than a year. This was a challenge for both clients and employees. Clients of ‘s Heeren Loo, who all have a (mental) disability, did not or not fully understand Corona and the associated measures. They did not understand why they were no longer allowed to go to the daytime activities and why they had to spend 24 hours a day in and around their own homes, with roommates they did not choose themselves. Visit was also not possible in the initial phase. “The separation between home and daytime activities was gone, which is extremely difficult for people who value regularity and structure.”

Logistical challenge
A great deal of flexibility and inventiveness was also required of employees of the daytime activities. Offering meaningful daytime activities in the home was different. The daytime activities team was divided up and spread over different homes, they ensured that the clients were still doing meaningful work. “That was a logistical challenge,” says Berthien Stronkhorst, personal supervisor of the DAC in Tiel Passewaaij. “Normally we have everything at hand for the daytime activities, now you had to think up everything in advance and take it with you. Borrowing something from the neighbors, for example, was not an option, because to prevent cross-contamination, it was not allowed to visit other homes ”.

Despite
Although it was a very tough year for clients and employees, pride now predominates. “We have all done well together!” For some clients, the lockdown has even brought positive things. For example, there was a client who did not want to go to the daytime activities. She was excited and refused to go. Because the activities have now taken place in her familiar environment for over a year, she got to know the supervisors and experienced how much she enjoyed the work and activities. “Now, since the reopening, she has been going to the daytime activities location for half a day, which is a huge step forward for her and a development that we are proud of!”, Says Berthien Stronkorst.

Radiant faces
“Shall we eat fries and cream pie to celebrate being here again?” One of the clients asks on the first day at the Day Activities Center Tiel Passewaaij. It won’t be fries, but cream pie on the first day. Stronkhorst mainly sees many happy faces again. “You notice in everything that clients are happy to be here again. They cannot tell it all themselves, but they shine again and are happy! ” The employees of the DAC are also happy to work together again on a good life and meaningful daytime activities for the clients. “You can see their self-esteem is growing again; they again choose who they want to work with, they can help each other and us with odd jobs. Little by little they regain control over their own lives … ”.

About ‘s Heeren Loo

‘s Heeren Loo supports people with an intellectual disability or other disability in almost all of the Netherlands. With more than 130 years of knowledge and experience from practice and the latest insights from scientific research and innovations.

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