Chickens at the CHSLD | The Press

(Zaandam and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands) With his walker, Clasquin Evert, 87, approaches an enclosure where four chickens are pecking. With laughing eyes, he looks at them for a few minutes before heading towards the rabbit shelter next door. Three large animals hop near immense rosemary and thyme plants.

Like every afternoon, Mr. Evert came for a little walk in the garden located on the roof of the Pennemes residence. Around 500 seniors live in this housing complex in Zaandam, a Dutch municipality located about fifteen kilometers from Amsterdam.

The Pennemes residence is located in one of the neighborhoods with the highest crime rate in the country. “Despite everything, we want to give residents privileged access to nature,” says Rutger de Graaf, the establishment’s innovation advisor.

Hence the idea of ​​creating a secure roof garden. Gardener Jacob Spaander is hired to take care of the place with the residents.

The day of the passage of The Press, he gives Mr. Evert a jar full of worms. “Mr. Evert really likes to feed the chickens. But he sometimes gives them bread and it’s not good. So I provide him with the right food,” says Mr. Spaander.

The gardener offers instant coffee to residents who come to see him.

NPOs in competition

In the Netherlands, the majority of elder care is provided by a vast network of 2,350 non-profit companies spread across the country. Each of these organizations receives its funding from the government or insurers. In many cases, as at the Pennemes residence, non-profit organizations manage housing for independent seniors, but also CHSLD beds, in addition to having the responsibility of offering home care in a given territory. “We take care of everything, until death,” notes Mr. de Graaf.

The latter explains that each person losing their autonomy must be assessed by a doctor who fills out a grid to determine the services they can receive. “The person can then contact the different companies that offer care in their region,” says Mr. de Graaf. Everyone can choose. »

In the Netherlands, the fact of having a very wide variety of non-profit organizations that offer care to the elderly means that each can develop its color and adapt its practices to its reality, indicates Philippe Voyer, professor at the Faculty of Nursing Sciences of Laval University. “It allows us to diversify the offer,” he says.

It’s better to live happily than for a long time

The Pennemes residence focuses, for example, on nature and animals. In addition to the roof garden, an outdoor courtyard filled with trees and plants allows around ten chickens to roam freely on the ground floor. An aviary houses several colorful birds. Residents are responsible for maintaining the premises and feeding the animals. While some are efficient, others work more slowly. But the staff is patient. “We accept that certain works are progressing slowly,” says Mr. de Graaf. We do almost nothing for them. Otherwise, what would be the goal? »

Chickens are therapy animals and can be petted. Residents can also have their own pet. “It is known that animals are one of the ingredients to combat loneliness,” says Mr. de Graaf.

A “dog daycare” project was also launched. Neighborhood residents are invited to drop off their dogs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. During the day, residents are responsible for walking the animals and taking care of them. “It’s an exchange of good practices. It helps break down the boundary between the city and the residence and allows residents to feel useful,” illustrates Mr. de Graaf, who emphasizes that the program is a great success.

The other mantra that guides the actions of the Pennemes center is the fact that “it is better to live happily than long”.

Employees with varied profiles

Mr de Graaf explains that while care organizations once competed for residents in the Netherlands, this is no longer the case. The population is aging rapidly and many establishments now have waiting lists. Despite everything, many continue to innovate to stand out.

Before opening last year, the Wij zijn Zuiderschans center in the chic municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in the south of the country, launched a call for applications to fill 60 positions. Half were filled by health workers, the other half by people with other qualifications. Mechanics, bakers, restaurant workers: hundreds of people applied to work in the vast residence. “What we were looking for was social skills,” explains Eric van der Hulst, administrator of the establishment.

Extensive training was given internally, particularly on the establishment’s “social approach to dementia”. Several of these employees can now give baths, feed certain residents who are seriously losing their independence and even give medication. The Van Neynsel group, which oversees the establishment, claims to not see more incidents or errors from these workers. Health-trained employees are always present on site.

Nurses have a very varied job description. In home care, they will change dressings, provide care, but also do a little cleaning. The objective: for a single person to be able to offer a wide variety of services to seniors in home care, explains Ina Snier, administrator of the social approach project at the Van Neynsel group.

At Wij zijn Zuiderschans, 10 volunteers of different ages also live in the complex and have the mandate to help residents. “They can go grocery shopping for some people. Take them to the hairdresser. Some give short courses on the use of technology…”, lists M^me Snier.

Both in Wij zijn Zuiderschans and in Pennemes, we try as best as possible to lower the barriers between the community and seniors’ residences. In Wij zijn Zuiderschans, for example, there is no hairdresser on site. “We prefer to accompany people to the hairdresser where they have been going all their lives,” illustrates Mr. van der Hulst. Why would we isolate you here? We must maintain links with the community. »