The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) is today publishing regional reports containing, among other things, the regional use of healthcare compared to the national picture. Here we see that the average waiting time for a dementia case manager in 2022 has increased to 4.4 weeks. People with dementia and carers therefore wait far too long for the help and support of a permanent supervisor. “Disgraceful,” says Alzheimer Nederland. “Health insurers really leave people who are close to despair in the cold.”
People have to wait even longer for a case manager than in 2021, when the average waiting time was 3.1 weeks. 40% of people with dementia and their loved ones wait even longer than 6 weeks for a specialized care provider. Julie Meerveld, Advocacy manager of Alzheimer Nederland: “People with dementia and informal carers have indicated for years that the case manager offers the most important support to keep it going longer at home. If we all want everyone to stay at home for as long as possible, it is really up to health insurers to get rid of these waiting lists as quickly as possible.”
Health insurer on the move
Dementia case management falls under the Treeknorm Nursing of six weeks (80% within 4 weeks). It is the responsibility of the health insurer to guarantee this timeliness standard for its policyholders. The health insurer must therefore purchase this necessary care more widely.
Regional differences
A number of regions stand out negatively. For example, everyone (100%) in the Haaglanden region waits longer than 6 weeks for a case manager. The waiting time there is on average 36 weeks. In contrast, the waiting time in the Acute Care Network in Limburg is on average 2 weeks and nobody waits longer than 6 weeks for a dementia case manager.
About case management
Case management dementia is an insured right (basic insurance). The dementia case manager is a nurse or social worker who is specialized and trained in dementia. Alzheimer Nederland argues that people should have a case manager next to them immediately after the diagnosis of dementia and that they should not only be eligible for this if there is a crisis. This care provider closely follows people with dementia and their loved ones, looks ahead with them, offers a listening ear, knows their way around the forest of professional institutions and organizations in the region, mediates in arranging (voluntary) help and helps with making difficult choices.