In a stately nineteenth-century villa on the Oude Enghweg Katja and Henri keep the office. Vulnerable Hilversum residents or their informal carers who have questions about care can contact them. Katja: “Suppose you need a Wmo taxi pass or a stair lift, then we will help you with the application and go through all the steps with you. And if necessary, we also participate in a kitchen table discussion with the municipality.”
Personal approach
Henri: “We always first have a few conversations to find out together where someone can use support and how you can request this care. We prefer to do this in people's homes, because then you can see what the home situation is like and you can form a good picture.” With their knowledge of healthcare, Katja and Henri help their clients on their way. Minimum schemes, sports and culture fund, personal budgets, debt assistance, Wmo applications, Katja and Henri know all the schemes available. Henri: “We are a kind of ANWB for short-term care and assistance.”
We are a mouthpiece
Katja: “Many of our clients have a disability that you do not always see immediately, such as autism, non-congenital brain injury or a somewhat lower IQ. There is a chance that they will be overcharged.” Henri: “If the UWV Werkbedrijf asks if someone can travel to work independently, then during the intake interview someone will say 'yes, that's fine'. And then I can provide context. That if he misses the bus he might not arrive.” Katja: “We are their mouthpiece. We then support people in clarifying their situation with the municipal consultant. That is why it is so important for our work to ask questions about their living environment.”
Join the conversation with a Wmo or Wlz consultant
But Katja and Henri also help with physical limitations or progressive illnesses with the Wmo application for domestic help and Wlz for 24-hour care, for example. Katja: “We also have close contact with general practitioners and mental health psychologists.” Everyone is welcome and support is free. The guidance lasts as long as it is necessary. That can be two conversations or sometimes there are more. Katja and Henri remain involved until the client has no more questions.
Stichting MEE is a national organization that is committed to people with disabilities. In Hilversum there are eight independent client support staff, one per district. They work for the municipality. And they work intensively with schools, general practitioners, Versa Welfare and the municipality and district directors