Skip to main content

Table 13 Netherlands

From: Structures for the care of people with dementia: a European comparison

Population (2021)

17.5 million [20]

Area (2021)

41,500 km² [21]

Spread of dementia-specific outpatient care services for people with dementia

Nationwide

Spread of dementia-specific inpatient care services for people with dementia

Nationwide

Expert notes regarding inpatient care

Almost every hospital has a neurologist or geriatrician to contact in case of dementia symptoms. Furthermore, there are almost 100 memory clinics in the Netherlands. The larger cities also all have inpatient care facilities. In rural areas, the distances to such facilities can sometimes be slightly longer.

Expert conclusion regarding dementia-specific care structures

The existing care services are suitable for adequate care of people with dementia and dementia-specific informational services are available throughout the country. Since most of the information provided mainly by ‘Alzheimer Netherlands’ and ‘Pharos’ is available online, access is difficult for many older people. Consequently, there is a need for different forms of informational services. Currently, people with dementia and their relatives are rarely involved in the development of care services. One reason for this is that GPs, who play a key role in the Dutch care system, have difficulties in diagnosing dementia.

Existing models of good practise

The concept of the ‘dementia-friendly community’, which includes a quality label and staff training for supermarkets and communities, as well as needs assessment through biography work with people with dementia