Familiar faces remain with household help
The Municipal Executive has decided that MeanderGroep Zuid-Limburg and Ambulante Thuiszorg (ATZ) will remain the care providers for domestic help in Heerlen. The municipality and the care providers have been negotiating in recent weeks. They have reached an agreement and the work will continue after January 1.
Councillor Arlette Vrusch (Care) said, "With this new contract, we are putting the interests of residents and care workers first. Residents will keep their trusted home help. This is often their support and advocate who has been part of their lives for years. Home care workers deserve this as well. They dedicate themselves every day to providing care in our city and do incredibly important work. I am proud of the care they provide and that is what we as a city council stand for."
Household assistance provides assistance to over 3,700 households in Heerlen. It is unusual for a municipality to put social interests first in this way. At a time of mounting personnel shortages in care, the municipality is deliberately choosing not to take risks. We promise to protect continuity for care workers. Collaborations with other care partners will also continue. The municipality retains the legal task and this new contract with MeanderGroep Zuid-Limburg and ATZ is the most appropriate solution.
"What has counted most heavily for me is the uncertainty that tenders bring. Job uncertainty for more than 660 care workers and unknowns for residents whether they will keep their trusted help. It is important to keep these well-established care relationships. Home care aides provide more than just domestic help. They answer practical requests for help from residents or function as confidants, have an important signaling function behind the front door and belong to an extensive care network in the city. That is why the college chose not to take a risk and to see if a solution could be reached with the current providers. Today the contracts were signed and that is a result to be proud of," continued Alderman Vrusch.
What do we mean by household help?
By domestic help we mean tasks such as vacuuming, cleaning, changing the bed or cleaning windows. This help falls under the Social Support Act (Wmo). With this law we try to let people live independently as long as possible. The responsibility and financing of household help lies with the municipality.
Photo: MeanderGroep Zuid-Limburg