Acute home care needed

This article discusses when and how to request acute assistance, depending on the situation.

Home care can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when the situation changes suddenly. When you notice that things are no longer manageable at home, it is important to know who to call for help. This article provides an overview of the steps you can take and the services you can engage.

When do I call 112?

When you are dealing with a care situation that is urgent or unsafe, it is important to act quickly. Here are some situations in which you should call 112:

• Immediate danger: If there is acute danger to yourself, your loved one, or others, for example, in cases of violence or threats.
• Psychological crisis: In cases of severe psychological issues that require immediate help, such as suicidal thoughts. If someone says "I can't take it anymore," it is crucial to ask further questions and seek help.
• Unsafe care: If you notice that care is turning into shouting, threatening, or neglect, the boundary of safe care has been crossed. First, take care of yourself and your loved one.

In situations without immediate danger, but where you still have concerns, you can contact Veilig Thuis, your general practitioner, or a caregiver support worker. They can help you with advice and support.

It is important not to stay alone with these concerns and to ask for help. What are you experiencing in your situation?

What if there is no immediate danger?

When there is no immediate danger, but you notice that the care situation is urgent, you may need acute home care. This could be the case if your elderly parent cannot be alone or if you, as a caregiver, are overwhelmed.

In such a situation, there are steps you can take:

• Contact the district nurse. They can assess whether additional care at home is possible.
• Call the care office if your loved one has a Wlz indication. They can look into temporary admission or additional care.
• Contact the municipality if there is no Wlz indication and your loved one cannot stay safely at home without your help.
• Seek help at the WMO desk for support and advice.

It is important to communicate about your situation and what you need. Feel free to ask for help, as you do not have to solve this alone. What are you experiencing now in your situation?

How can Veilig Thuis help?

Veilig Thuis can play an important role in situations where acute home care is needed. When care for a loved one becomes unsafe, for example, due to shouting, threatening, or neglect, it is crucial to take immediate action. In such cases, it is important to first ensure the safety of yourself and the care recipient. In case of acute danger, call 112.

If there is no immediate danger, you can discuss the situation with Veilig Thuis, your general practitioner, district nurse, or caregiver support worker. Veilig Thuis offers anonymous advice and can help find alternative care or temporary support. This can relieve the pressure on an overwhelmed caregiver and help make the situation safe again.

It is important to know that insecurity does not only involve physical violence. Emotional abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation also fall under insecurity. If in doubt or if you have concerns, you can always ask for advice from Veilig Thuis, even if you are not yet sure what is going on.

Do you have specific concerns about a situation you are dealing with?

What to do in case of psychological problems?

In cases of psychological problems, it is important to act quickly, especially if the situation feels urgent or unsafe. Here are some steps you can follow if you need acute home care:

• Immediate danger: If there is immediate danger to yourself or your loved one, call 112. This also applies if there has already been a suicide attempt.
• General practitioner or out-of-hours service: If there is no immediate life-threatening situation, but there is a psychological crisis, you can approach the general practitioner or out-of-hours service. They can activate the crisis service if necessary.
• Professional help: If you suspect that your loved one is thinking about suicide, ask them about it. Listen without judgment and seek contact with professional help together, such as the general practitioner or the 113 helpline. This helpline also offers advice for loved ones.
• Municipality: If staying at home is not feasible due to psychosocial problems, the municipality may be responsible for emergency shelter.

It is important not to try to solve the situation alone and to keep an eye on your own safety as well. Feel free to ask for help from others or a trusted person. What are you experiencing now in this situation?