Vacation caregiver: arrange substitute care

Going on vacation as a caregiver often requires extra coordination. You want the care at home to continue properly, even when you are away. With substitute care for the caregiver, you can look in advance at who will temporarily take over the care and what is needed for that. That makes it easier to leave with peace of mind.

What is substitute care during vacation?

Respite care means that someone temporarily takes over the care from you. That gives you room for rest or vacation. In Zoetermeer, this can be arranged in different ways.

It can involve light support, a volunteer at home, day activities, or short-term stay. With short-term stay, your loved one stays in an institution for a while. Through the municipality, this is a maximum of 72 hours per week. This is also called taking over care during vacation.

Who can temporarily take over the care?

That depends on what you need. In Zoetermeer, these forms are mentioned: a volunteer at home, day activities, activities in community centers and drop-in locations, and short-term stay. Participating in an activity together can also already provide some relief.

If you want to get away yourself for a while, you can see what fits better. Sometimes a volunteer is enough. Sometimes day care is a better fit. For help with that choice, you can contact a caregiver coordinator in Zoetermeer.

How do you properly record the care?

Discuss in advance how many nights or day parts are needed. Also agree which care will continue during the stay. Ask before the start who the contact person is.

Record what you are transferring and which costs apply. For short-term stay, you can submit the request via the indicated Wmo route. Independent client support can help with the application.

How do you arrange reimbursements and costs?

First check with the health insurer whether substitute care is reimbursed. If it is not reimbursed, you submit a Wmo report to the municipality. For short-term stay via the Wmo, you pay a personal contribution. The amount is listed with the CAK.

If the health insurer does not reimburse it, you can report directly to the Zorgpension as a caregiver. The Zorgpension will assess with an admission test whether your loved one can stay there. If you are not accepted, you submit a Wmo report to the municipality.

What do you do as a final step?

First check whether the health insurer or an existing Wlz indication offers a route. If not, read the local conditions via the Zoetermeer application for short-term stay. Then submit the application via the indicated Wmo route.

The care can then run for a maximum of 72 hours per week for short-term stay. Mantelzorg Zoetermeer helps you get started and thinks along about what suits your situation.