Care facility Bloemfonteijn

A hidden oasis in the Betuwe

Where care for people with disabilities is central

Just as the employees of itemedical are committed and passionate about care, Rian and Monique Verwoert also do the same for their residents together with their team. In 2015 they founded their own residential and care facility, Bloemfonteijn, in Heesselt, a village in Gelderland near itemedical. Their project started with the search for a suitable place to live for their daughter Sherilyn, who has severe disabilities. Rian’s and Monique’s goal is to offer residents the same warm home feeling as they give their daughter. That is why Bloemfonteijn offers care and living space to 40 residents with intellectual disability. Through their close collaboration with doctors and hospitals, they can maintain a high level of care for this vulnerable group.

A parent project that got out of hand

When Sherilyn was born in 2000, Rian and Monique already knew that tough years were coming. Their daughter was diagnosed with a rare medical condition involving the lower spine. They quickly looked for a place that could provide the necessary care, preferably in a warm and homely environment. After yet another disappointment, they decided to take matters into their own hands. They looked for and found a place where their daughter could grow up: in their own home. In 2014 they founded Bloemfonteijn, inspired by the South African area of the same name, and started as a healthcare institution on January 1, 2015, immediately with 24 residents and 40 employees.

The care estate is unique because it was conceived by parents and thus grew into a larger initiative. It feels like home for every resident, with spacious, warm rooms, their own toys and personal furnishings. The starting point is the philosophy of a mother and father who want the best for their child.

Wide range of residents and care groups

The care estate has since expanded to 3 locations and has 40 permanent residents, 20 places for day care and 125 employees. That is an average of 3 supervisors for 8 or 9 residents. The children’s group even has one-on-one guidance. Of this group, the youngest is 3 years old and Sherilyn is the oldest. The oldest resident of the care complex is 54 years old. The division of the residents is not according to age, but rather according to group dynamics and individual needs. That is why the care team works with 5 colors:

• Group blue: people with various disabilities. Although the dynamics within this group are different, the residents get along well with each other.
• Group green: the intermediate group for residents aged thirty and older. This is a quiet and low-stimulus group.
• Group orange: the active children’s group with many stimuli, sensations and intensive medical care every day.
• Group Yellow: a quiet group, the residents require intensive guidance.
• Group Purple: the residents have a certain degree of independence.

Unique care approach: personal and lifelong

Because most of them stay at the institution for life, the intake process at Bloemfonteijn is very extensive. In this way they monitor the quality of the living groups and every resident feels comfortable in their group. The employees almost regard them as their own children. They see them grow up and go through a whole process. Parents know their children best through their years of experience. The challenge is to quickly adopt these experiences and recognize behaviors. Because the children’s language is not easy to read. Every child is unique and so is the clinical picture. Parents often say that Bloemfonteijn feels like a safe home.

Smart technology for safe care

With this extra attention and dedication, Rian and Monique strive for a safe and secure environment. They focus on innovative healthcare technology to which itemedical also contributed. The rooms are equipped with various types of alarm reporting points:

• Motion detector: in night mode, this sensor detects any movement.
• Emergency buttons: in the event of an epileptic attack, care can call for extra help. Even if an employee gets into trouble himself, you can call for help via the button.
• Camera surveillance: parents have a say in the use of camera surveillance. In addition to the camera, there is also an audio alarm. Because residents cannot express themselves, interpreting visual and auditory signals is an important tool to help them.
• Crash car: almost every day one of the residents has an epileptic attack. The urgent need for a surveillance monitor came into view. This resulted in the collaboration with itemedical, where itemedical supplied a patient monitoring monitor from Spacelabs Healthcare. The care team placed this monitor on a medical trolley – the crash car – and to monitor the residents they connect sensors to it to measure blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and breathing frequency. In an emergency situation, outsiders often do not know how to deal with a resident with a disability. To really understand that something is wrong, you have to deal with them every day. The external medical assistance retrieves all crucial information from the monitor in a language they understand. A doctor cannot interpret expressions and cries of residents, but he can interpret vital parameters. Owning such a patient monitoring monitor is an added value in these types of situations.
• Epilepsy mat: detects all unusual movements during sleep.
• Night watch: sensor on the arms or legs that detects movements and vibrations.
• Saturation monitoring: sensor that monitors, among other things, the heart rate. Changes in heart rate can indicate an epileptic seizure.

The central monitoring system records all messages from these alarm devices and also forwards them to the employees’ smartphones. Thanks to localization and a good knowledge of the floor plan, every emergency responder knows exactly where to be in an emergency. Bloemfonteijn is far ahead of its time with the use of innovative technology, as evidenced by the many compliments from emergency services. By providing the right data, the team can quickly respond to the health status of their residents and keep them ‘at home’ for longer.

Bloemfonteijn’s healthcare philosophy: investing in care and local involvement

Since Bloemfonteijn is a private healthcare institution, Rian and Monique decide for themselves where the investments go. By keeping overhead costs as low as possible, they can devote more resources to healthcare. External fundraising such as the Oranjefonds and through the business community goes to projects that are not directly healthcare related, such as sensory rooms, a bus or a horse enclosure. Itemedical supports ‘its Betuwe neighbors’ with expertise and a patient monitoring monitor. In addition, Bloemfonteijn recently invested in a swimming pool, because water gives residents a feeling of freedom and encourages them to exercise.

In addition to the swimming pool and the horse enclosure, the residents help out at the petting zoo. Or they play with local residents in the playground and challenge them in local village activities. Just nice and everyday… like at home.

Feel free to visit our neighbors in this beautiful oasis with an eye for care. Rian adds: “To have a cup of coffee, enjoy nature and the home-baked apple pie that surprises you every time.”