On October 1st 2024, a collaborative event titled Kleurrijke Zorgtafel (Colorful Care Table) was organised by ZorgScala, migrant elderly consultants from Wijkz and PEP Den Haag. The event centered on improving culturally sensitive care for elderly individuals, both at home and in nursing facilities, in The Hague. Key participants included the Municipality of The Hague, the Transmural Care Association (Vereniging Transmurale Zorg), NOOM and Kokon, the latter of which was a connection made with Elisabet de Vries from Saffier, member of Zorgscala at the ENIEC annual meeting in Helsinki. Fred May, also attended the meeting.
The discussions featured informative speeches, interactive dialogues, and workshops, focusing on ensuring that elderly care meets the diverse cultural needs of the local community.
Architects from Kokon, Renske and Alara, presented their co-creation method called “Beraber” (meaning “together” in Turkish), which is designed to facilitate inclusive residential care design. The method emphasises involving future residents in the planning and transformation of care facilities to address their specific cultural and personal needs. The architects aim to bridge the gap between different stakeholders—elderly residents, informal caregivers, healthcare providers, municipalities, and designers—to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.
“Beraber” encourages all parties to collaborate and share their insights across five key themes: Safety, co-reliance, Encounter, Green Spaces, and Privacy & Openness. By fostering open dialogue and understanding, the method seeks to create practical solutions that accommodate the wishes and concerns of all users, particularly those from migrant backgrounds, and enhance their overall care experience.
This initiative is a vital step toward achieving more inclusive, culturally responsive care for The Hague’s diverse elderly population. If you would like to learn more about “Beraber”, scan the QR code provided down below.
