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MARIGOT-- Vice-President Ramona Connor confirmed the Collectivité's social services has refocused attention on the case of the elderly man Placido Vrolijk to evaluate the situation of the family, following the alarm raised by concerned citizens and neighbours earlier this week.
Social workers of the Collectivité and also from the Dutch side have visited the house on Rue de Pic Paradis.
Vrolijk (83) was born in Aruba, has Dutch nationality and is currently in poor health, but receives a pension from the Dutch side. Those close to the family want him to go into a home, either on the French side or Dutch side, however, it is too early to say how or when that decision will be made.
Victor Paines, who raised the alarm on behalf of neighbours, said he was "very satisfied" that concrete action is now being taken on the gentleman's case.
"Social workers have been there taking notes and photographs," he said. "The house is also being looked at to see whether it can be renovated or destroyed, and if the family needs to be re-located."
In an invited comment, Operations Manager for the White and Yellow Cross Foundation Bregje Boetekees said the gentleman has the right to care, if he is registered on the Dutch side.
"His situation is not unique unfortunately, but the social worker in charge of my waiting list has made contact to get the data and see how he can be admitted," she disclosed. "At least a process has started."
Boetekees explained for elderly care, the admission requirements are that you have to be 60 years and older, you have to be registered on the Dutch side, and willing to submit your AOV pension as a contribution towards care, which is then re-routed to government, which then pays for the care. Then one must have a self-help score of six or higher; this is a scoring system to determine someone's dependence on care, and you have to be willing to change your address.
The person has to have health insurance, because the daily rate in nursing home care doesn't include medical care, medications, tests, or specialist visits. She said she did not yet know what category he could be eligible for, elderly care or nursing home care, because the requirements for the nursing home are different from elderly care.
"In the nursing home, you are admitted according to your care dependency, not age, and that has to be scored, she explained. "The nursing home is for the chronically ill and handicapped. From the self-help score it is important to know which unit he would be eligible for, because the waiting times of the two are completely different.
"The elderly care unit already has 12 people waiting for admission and the nursing home six to seven persons waiting. That's a big difference in the time you have to wait before we can help you."
Vrolijk would also most likely be entitled to qualify for a PP insurance card (medical aid card) if he has no income, or at least income not above a certain level. This card is supplied free of charge by the Island Government and gives 100-per-cent coverage for health care services.
The question of whether Vrolijk has health insurance was not clear, but Boetekees indicated that advice can be sought from the community health desks and also at the department of social welfare and development.
"This is the agency where difficult situations like this have to be reported, and where they will investigate and see what assistance he needs."
