More and more care and welfare organisations, municipalities and municipal health services are working with a ‘broad health concept’, in which ‘being sick’ is no longer central, but rather what someone can still do. RIVM followed three regions for two years to see how the way of working was being adapted and what the experiences were. Residents, (care) professionals, policy makers and administrators are enthusiastic, but also see challenges. This is reported by the RIVM.
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Healthcare is under great pressure due to staff shortages, an aging population and higher expenditure. A possible contribution to a solution is to take ‘health’ as a starting point instead of ‘illness’. So: how do people stay healthy for as long as possible, what can someone still do and what gives their lives meaning? By also asking about other aspects of someone’s life during a conversation, other solutions sometimes come up, such as doing voluntary work against loneliness.
Be aware of health
For this study, RIVM followed the province of Flevoland, the municipality of Texel and the Utrecht districts Leidsche Rijn-Vleuten de Meern. Those involved there see the added value of this new way of working. Organizations and professionals could find each other better and more easily set up activities to improve the health of residents. Professionals experienced more job satisfaction when they used this ‘broad view’ when working with residents or patients. Residents noticed that they are more aware of their health and have more control. This way of working and looking at health from a broader perspective is a process that takes a lot of time. The results are also not immediately visible. The regions are therefore eager to learn from each other’s experiences and exchange knowledge.
Apply in practice
Seven elements increase the chance of success of the application of a broad health concept. These are: support from all organizations involved, a clear focus in the approach and professionals from different organizations who know each other. It is also important that organizations work from the needs and possibilities of residents. Sufficient funds and a facilitating organizational structure are important preconditions. In addition, it helps to ensure that residents come into contact with ‘healthy living’ in various ways, for example through work and education, according to researchers from the RIVM.
By: National Care Guide
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