Happy in the neighbourhood – Heerlen, The Netherlands
Edited on
22 August 2022Did you ever dream of a world where doctors treat loneliness and isolation with social services instead of giving pills? This world might come true in Heerlen.
Heerlen’s small scale action is well-being on prescription, meaning to introduce the possibility of sending the patients to a well-being coach instead of giving them medicine. The general practioner selects elderly that visit the doctor regularly with a medical problem, but in reality the problem has a social basis and directs them to a coach, who finds for them and with them the best way of overcoming the underlying problem. The focus topic is healthy and happy ageing, thus lowering the costs of medical, municipal and care support.
Submitted by Nora Kebel on