List of terms

Care words explained simply

Care uses a lot of difficult words. Here we explain the most important terms briefly and simply — without jargon.

Ambulant (care that comes to you): Ambulante zorg means that the support worker comes to you, for example at your home. So you do not have to move house to receive care.
AVG (Dutch privacy law): The AVG is the law that protects your privacy. Organisations may only use your personal details when that is necessary, and they must handle them carefully.

Beschikking (official decision): A beschikking is an official letter with a decision, for example from your municipality. It states which care or support you receive and for how long.

CAK: The CAK is the body that collects the personal contribution (eigen bijdrage). It works out how much you pay for care from the Wlz (the Dutch Long-Term Care Act). You can make a trial calculation at hetcak.nl.
Casemanager: A casemanager is your fixed point of contact who keeps an overview of all your care. He or she coordinates with every professional involved in your situation.
CIZ: The CIZ (Centrum indicatiestelling zorg) is the national body that assesses long-term care needs. It decides whether you are entitled to care from the Wlz and issues an indicatie for that.
Cliëntenraad (client council): A cliëntenraad is a group of clients who have a say about the care within an organisation. In this way clients keep influence on decisions that affect them.

Dagbesteding (day activities): Dagbesteding is a regular place where you go during the day for activities. It gives your day structure and you meet other people there.
Dementie (dementia): Dementia is an illness in which memory and thinking work less and less well. Doing everyday things yourself slowly becomes harder.

Eigen bijdrage (personal contribution): The eigen bijdrage is the part of the care costs that you pay yourself. For Wlz care the CAK works out and collects this amount; how high it is depends on your situation.

Gedragsdeskundige (behavioural expert): A gedragsdeskundige is a specialist who looks at behaviour and at what someone needs. At Divers Zorg the gedragsdeskundige takes part in the intake and thinks along about your support.
GGZ (mental health care): GGZ stands for geestelijke gezondheidszorg: help with mental health problems. Think of low mood, anxiety or other difficulties that make daily life harder.

Indicatie (care assessment): An indicatie is an official decision that you need certain care. Your municipality (for the Wmo, the Dutch Social Support Act) or the CIZ (for the Wlz) issues it; without an indicatie care is usually not paid for.
Intake: The intake is the first in-depth conversation at the start of the care. At Divers Zorg a gedragsdeskundige and a support worker have this conversation with you together.

Keukentafelgesprek (kitchen table conversation): The keukentafelgesprek is the conversation with your municipality about your Wmo application, often simply at your home. Together you discuss which help you need.

LVG (mild intellectual disability): LVG means that someone has a mild intellectual disability. Learning, planning and arranging things yourself are then often harder.

Mantelzorger (informal carer): A mantelzorger is someone who cares for a family member, partner or friend without being paid. For example a daughter who helps her mother with everyday things.
Multidisciplinair overleg (multidisciplinary meeting): A meeting in which different specialists discuss your care together, for example the support worker and the gedragsdeskundige. In this way several people check whether the care still fits.

Observatieperiode (observation period): The period at the start of the care in which the support workers get to know you well. After that the agreements are adjusted to what you really need.

Pgb (personal budget): A pgb (persoonsgebonden budget) is a sum of money with which you buy your own care. The SVB pays the care provider from this budget.

Respijtzorg (respite care): Respijtzorg is temporary care that takes over the tasks of an informal carer for a while. This gives the carer a chance to catch their breath, for example while their loved one goes to dagbesteding.

Statushouder (permit holder): A statushouder is a refugee who has been granted a residence permit. So he or she is allowed to stay in the Netherlands.
SVB: The SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) is the bank that manages your pgb money and pays the care providers from it. So you do not have to transfer large amounts yourself.

Verwijzer (referrer): A verwijzer is a professional who refers you to care. For example a general practitioner, the neighbourhood team or another care worker.

Wijkteam (neighbourhood team): The wijkteam (or sociaal team) is the municipal team you can turn to with questions about care and support. The wijkteam often helps with a Wmo application.
Wkkgz (care quality and complaints law): The Wkkgz is the law on quality and complaints in care. Care organisations must provide good care and have a clear complaints procedure.
Wlz: The Wlz (the Dutch Long-Term Care Act) is there for people who permanently need a lot of care or supervision. The CIZ decides whether you qualify for it.
Wmo: The Wmo (the Dutch Social Support Act, arranged by your municipality) covers help and support through the municipality. For example guidance, dagbesteding or help with the household.

Zelfredzaamheid (self-reliance): Zelfredzaamheid means that you can do everyday things yourself as much as possible. Support helps you to manage more on your own, step by step.
Zorg in natura (ZIN): With zorg in natura your municipality or the care office arranges and pays for the care directly. You have no paperwork yourself; it is the alternative to a pgb.
Zorgkantoor (regional care office): The zorgkantoor arranges the care that falls under the Wlz in your region. It makes agreements with care organisations and arranges payment.
Zorgplan (care plan): The zorgplan is the document with the agreements about your care: your goals, who does what and when. You draw it up together with your support worker and discuss it regularly.

Is your word not on the list?

Just ask us — we are happy to explain it calmly, in plain language. You can call us day and night.

Apply for care, or simply get to know us first — we are happy to think along with you.