Leeuwarden earns dementia-friendly certification, setting new standard for inclusive care
Leeuwarden has been recognized as a dementia-friendly municipality, ensuring better support for over 2,100 residents with dementia and their caregivers. This certification highlights the city’s ongoing efforts to create safe, inclusive spaces and tailored services for those affected.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Certification Issuer | Alzheimer Nederland |
| Assessment Tool | Dementia Scan (evaluates policy, support, training, housing, and meeting places) |
| Current Dementia Cases | ~2,100 (expected to rise to 2,500 in coming years) |
| Meeting Places | Odensehuis, Alzheimer and Jungheimer Café |
| Caregiver Support | Amaryllis support point, discussion groups for partners |
| Special Initiative | Dementia-friendly polling station (Adventskerk, Bilgaard) |
| Municipality Employees | Trained in recognizing and dealing with dementia |
The municipality of Leeuwarden plays a key role in coordinating local care and welfare initiatives, ensuring residents with dementia and their caregivers receive structured support. By collaborating with organizations like Alzheimer Nederland, the municipality helps shape policies and services that promote inclusivity and accessibility.
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Leeuwarden Municipality Receives Dementia-Friendly Municipality Certificate
The municipality of Leeuwarden received the official Dementia-Friendly Municipality certificate from Alzheimer Nederland on Thursday, March 5. This recognition demonstrates that Leeuwarden is structurally and demonstrably committed to supporting residents with dementia and their caregivers.
Alzheimer Nederland Dementia Scan
The certificate is based on Alzheimer Nederland’s Dementia Scan. This assessment evaluates how a municipality performs across various themes, such as policy development, caregiver support, professional development, meeting places, and housing for people with dementia. To qualify for the certificate, a municipality must score at least as well as the national average on four key themes.
Deputy Mayor Hein Kuiken emphasizes the importance of this recognition: “This certificate is a wonderful confirmation of the work we do together with partners, volunteers, and residents. We want everyone in our municipality to feel safe and understood. At the same time, we see that the number of people with dementia will continue to grow in the coming years, which requires ongoing attention and effort. We can and must all contribute in this regard—for our neighbors, family, or in the neighborhood. This recognition motivates us to continue working toward a society where people with dementia can remain included, both now and in the future.”
Active Network
In the municipality of Leeuwarden, there is an active dementia network in which the municipality collaborates with care and welfare organizations. There are meeting places such as the Odensehuis and the Alzheimer and Jungheimer Café. There is also a caregiver support point via Amaryllis. In addition, there are discussion groups for partners of people with dementia. Extra attention is given to caregivers and residents with a migration background. Municipal employees are also trained in recognizing and dealing with dementia.
Dementia-Friendly Polling Station
For the first time, a polling station tailored to people with dementia has been set up for the upcoming municipal elections (Adventskerk in Bilgaard). It is a quiet polling location with clear signage. There are also seating areas, and voters can bring a memory aid into the voting booth.
Attention and Support
Approximately 2,100 people with dementia currently live in the municipality of Leeuwarden. This number is expected to rise to around 2,500 in the coming years. With this certificate, Leeuwarden demonstrates that dementia-friendliness is not a temporary project with an end date but a lasting commitment for the entire municipality.