A firm clients' perspective
in the National Care for the Elderly
Program
Nynke Wilbrink, CSO
The Netherlands
National Care for the Elderly Program
(NCEP)
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Grant program of 80 million Euros
Commissioned by the ministry of Health,
Welfare and Sports
ZonMw provides the grants and directs the
program
Aimed at improving care for and wellbeing of
(the most vulnerable) senior citizens
Needs of senior citizens are leading
Improving care and wellbeing
• 8 regional networks: academic
hospitals, GP’s, homes for the
elderly, local councils, health
insurers, welfare organisations,
senior citizens organisations, etc,
etc..
• Partners in the networks develop
projects which they submit in the
grand programme
• 58 projects are approved and have
started
Senior citizens are in the lead ! (?)
Why?
Real improvements are only possible
when they suit the needs of the person
they are aimed at. Seniors themselves
know best what they need.
How?
Participation of senior citizens in the
networks and projects is made
compulsory to be eligible for funding
of the network and the projects
Elderly delegations
• 10-20 senior citizens per network
• Mostly an advising role
• Some delegations have veto rights to
approve or disapprove projects
I’d like to introduce…
Supporting the senior citizens in
the networks
CSO project: a firm clients perspective:
Aimed at empowering senior citizens in the networks
How?
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Community of learning
Handbook
Workshops
Vision document: care and wellbeing in 2025 from the senior
citizens perspective
• Master class client participation for researchers
• Book with good practices op partnerships in projects
• Partnership model and partnership scan
Is client participation in the
NCEP a best practice?
Yes and no
Let’s reflect!
Succes:
1. In all networks client participation has taken
shape
2. In all projects client participation has taken
shape
3. Some projects are initiated by senior citizens
4. It has become more naturally to involve senior
citizens themselves in projects.
5. As a result of that the focus within the program
has shifted from medical orientated projects to
more wellbeing orientated projects
6.
Lessons learned
Client participation is a complex process!
• Who is participating?
• From reactive to proactive
• Time is essential
• Attitude towards participation
• Knowledge of participation
• Role of the grant provider is very important
Conclusion:
• Within the NCEP senior citizens have
had an important role
• Client participation is a learning process
for everyone involved
• Partnerships between the elderly and
professionals can be a joy and be very
inspiring
Thank you!
Cycle within the networks
1. Collecting needs of
the senior citizens
6. Disseminate and
implement knowledge
and new methods
2. Prioritising
5. Carry out projects
3. Developing projects
4.Obtaining financing