‘Thanks to BNG, the elderly are really getting old together at Cederhof’

Close-knit community

With home care and day care, Cederhof supports the elderly to stay at home for as long as possible. If this is no longer possible, people can move to the new building where nursing home care can be provided. There is a close-knit community in Kapelle, and everyone knows how to find Cederhof. For Inge van den Boomen, director of Cederhof, it goes without saying that she and her colleagues know the residents of Cederhof well. ‘We love our profession. We want people to leave their family members with us with peace of mind. We are an open house with a central role in the neighbourhood.’

The dream

Cederhof's old building was due for renovation. Van den Boomen saw this as an opportunity to realise the dream of the organisation: couples who truly grow old together, instead of being separated. Visitors sitting on a chair instead of on the bed. Apartments with a view and a private balcony. These wishes made the financing complicated, but thanks to the support of BNG, and the municipality, which agreed to be the guarantor, the dream became reality: the new Cederhof only has two-room homes, as well as a communal garden and a separate balcony for each apartment. Okko Dijkstra, Healthcare sector lead at BNG: ‘With the new building, Cederhof has invested extra in outdoor spaces. This will allows the building to use the spaces as ordinary homes, in the event that the situation is no longer financially sustainable. That offers a lot of certainty.’

BNG’s trust

Van den Boomen emphasises that the organisation has a solid foundation: ‘We are a frugal organisation. Our clients and employees are satisfied, and we work without any temporary workers. Our absenteeism rate is low. That may sound boring, but that stability is very important when it comes to taking out a loan.’ The support of BNG allowed Cederhof to grow and could be an example of innovative care for the elderly. ‘The trust we have received from BNG motivates us to work even harder.’

Social function

The community's involvement in Cederhof is great. The building was not only built for but also with the community, and it fulfils an important social function. ‘Everyone knows: if you call at Cederhof, you will be helped,’ says Van den Boomen. Cederhof's care is exactly what anyone would want for their own parents: personal, engaged and innovative. Perhaps that is why the inhabitants of Kapelle are getting so old.