Care assoc.: Healthcare cuts harder on families than expected

Arranging alternative care for a frail loved one is even more frustrating after the cut backs in Health Care, according to Mezzo, the national association representing the interests of informal caregivers. Many family care givers are overworked and can't take time off because they can't find alternative care for their loved one. This year the organization has received many more complaints and questions about alternative care than last year, NU reports. "Informal caregivers now need months instead of weeks to try and arrange alternative care. Some are so tired of all the preparations that they almost give up", Liesbeth Hoogendijk, director of Mezzo, said to the newspaper. From January it has become much harder to arrange, for example, temporary accommodation for a dependent loved one in a nursing home. The inclusion criteria are much stricter than last year and nursing homes are shrinking, so there are fewer guest spots available. The Netherlands has 2.6 million informal caregivers - people who help out a family member, friend or neigbor in need of care. According to Mezzo, approximately 450 thousand of them are overworked. Hoogendijk stressed that vacation is important for everyone, including informal caregivers. "Especially when things are going well, it is important that a caregiver can take a break. This prevents overload.