Focus on Housing, Data Sharing, and Financing for Better Care and Support for People with Confused Behavior

The cabinet will bring more focus and direction to the approach for people with confused behavior. The focus will be on facilitating housing and reducing restrictions on data sharing. Under national coordination, a comprehensive approach with structural and reliable financing will be agreed upon to enable implementation in the field.

These priorities, formulated after discussions with people from practice, form the basis for a more coherent approach for people with confused and misunderstood behavior and their environment. The cabinet is taking the next step in the integrated approach, with further concretization and elaboration to follow soon. This work is carried out by an interdepartmental program consisting of VWS, JenV, VRO, and SZW, under the process management of the Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations.

Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations Frank Rijkaart, coordinating official for the broad approach to confused and misunderstood behavior: “Every year there are more reports of confused people, nearly 150,000 last year. That is too many, and we need to strengthen our approach to help these people well. This requires more coordination and actions that align with what professionals from practice ask. With these priorities, we can take steps to strengthen help for these people and their environment.”

An overview of the priorities the cabinet will work out with practice in 2026:

1. More housing and appropriate living facilities
The cabinet takes national coordination to ensure housing or shelter with associated care and safety for this target group. For people with severe multi-problems, who pose a danger to themselves and their environment, a suitable structural care place must be created. The ministries of VRO and VWS work together with municipalities to improve the housing task for this target group.

2. Clarity about data exchange frameworks
The use of data is subject to rules due to privacy. The cabinet will work with chain partners to see if there are still uncertainties, obstacles, or gaps and how current possibilities can be better utilized.

3. National coordination, local implementation
The cabinet is working towards a comprehensive and more uniform approach with agreements on how this will be implemented locally.

4. Structural reliable financing
Structural and reliable financing is an important precondition for the continuity of initiatives around confused and misunderstood behavior. The cabinet will further develop how this can take shape in the coming period.