How do you apply for respite care in Zoetermeer?

Respite care is replacement care for someone you look after. It gives you some time for yourself, while the care continues. It helps make it possible to keep providing care at home for longer.

What is respite care?

Respite care means that someone else takes over the care from you for a while. It is also called replacement care. This allows you to catch your breath for a moment.

That can be for a few hours. A day or a few days is also possible. Sometimes someone comes to your loved one’s home. Sometimes your loved one goes somewhere or stays overnight for a short time.

What forms of respite care are there?

There are several forms. With day care, your loved one goes for one or more part-days to a place nearby. There are activities there, for example at a community center, day center, or care farm.

With overnight care or short-term stay, your loved one stays for one or more nights. This can be in a care hotel, guesthouse, or with a host family. With presence care, someone comes to your home so that you can go out for a while.

There is also lighter respite care. In that case, your loved one goes to an activity or outing. Then you are free for a while.

Who pays for respite care?

Which costs are reimbursed depends on the care your loved one already receives. Does your loved one receive support through the Wmo? Then you apply for replacement care through the Wmo desk of your municipality.

Does your loved one have an indication for the Wlz? Then it goes through the care office in your region. Is the care covered by health insurance? Then discuss it with your general practitioner or health insurer. Additional insurance sometimes reimburses replacement care for caregivers for a number of days per year.

Volunteer help is usually free. For short-term stay, you pay a personal contribution. The amount is listed by the CAK.

How do you apply for respite care through the Wmo, Wlz, or health insurance?

The route depends on the form you are looking for. Do you want presence care at home? Then that can be arranged through an indication under the Wmo or the Health Insurance Act. For this, contact a Wmo advisor from the municipality via the municipal Wmo application route.

Where can you get help with applying in Zoetermeer?

At inZet and through independent client support, they think along with you for free. The caregiver coordinators of inZet and the independent client supporters give free advice about applying for respite care.

Mantelzorg Zoetermeer also helps. The local access desk and the client supporters give free advice. A caregiver broker can also apply for and arrange it for you. That is not free.

What do you do in case of urgency or sudden dropout?

If you unexpectedly become ill, are admitted to the hospital, or are temporarily unable to provide care, replacement care may be needed quickly.

If district nursing is already involved, the district nurse can see whether extra support is possible. For unexpected dropout without immediate danger to life, you can contact the Wmo desk of your municipality, district nursing, or the care office.