Publication date:	15 september 2008
More information:	Hans Hillebrand E-mail: hans.hillebrand@habitura.nl Phone: +31 (0)499-327399 Mobile: +31 (0)6-51793595 Expertise: -

I was recently a guest at the Croonemate Health and Care Centre. Built in 1988 in a quiet area in the town of Doetinchem, the health and care centre has 50 residential care places, but also provides day care to people in need of psychogeriatric and psychiatric assistance as well as local homecare. The centre forms part of Markenheem which operates five more homes in the Doetinchem and Bronkhorst region. The care today is good, but what about the future?

Croonemate provided the setting for a roundtable discussion about whether it was a good idea to transform the Liemers region into a Health Landscape, and if so, how to make that happen. A broadly representative group of people from healthcare, agriculture, recreation, landscape management and the municipalities had been invited to attend the workshop which was led by Jos Roemaat, a local agricultural entrepreneur but also an ardent advocate of the Health Landscape.

We had all gathered in a multifunctional space. The projection screen had been placed on the billiard table, behind which an enormous TV screen loomed large. A sliding partition wall had divided the room into two sections, allowing us to enjoy the musical gymnastics for the elderly. It was all very functional, yet cosy and comforting at the same time.

After a few somewhat lengthy introductions, a lively discussion ensued as to whether the presentation of the Health Landscape had struck the right chord with the participants. That was definitely the case. The locals agreed that the region was unknown and badly needed a fresh impulse. One sticking point is the absence of a strong local player who is capable of taking the lead. And nobody wants an outsider coming in and calling the shots. The gathering plumped for the ‘mushrooms’ model: starting small and then slowly growing towards the desired structure. A development group will be formed to set the ball rolling.

And then we returned to caring for today: the inevitable, but delicious, croquettes and filled rolls. Croonemate, thanks a lot! The Liemers region can get down to work.

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