Tuesday, November 10 is the Dag van de Mantelzorg (Day of Caregiving). Before going further into what happens on this day: who are these caregivers? In the Netherlands, mantelzorgers are familieleden (relatives), vrienden (friends), kennissen (acquaintances) and buren (neighbors), who take care of family members, a friend or neighbor that is in need of chronic help. Basically, these are people helping others with whom they have already had a personal connection before. They do this vrijwillig (voluntarily), without compensation, and for a longer period of time. Officially, a mantelzorger is somebody that gives care to somebody else for at least eight hours a week for at least three months. They also often do this next to their regular job. So that is quite a challenge and a commitment!
There are around 3.5 million mantelzorgers in the Netherlands, of whom around 1 million care for another more than eight hours a week for a person in need. There is a subsidy for mantelzorgers in certain cases: a small € 200,- per year. Still, that is better than nothing.
Een mantelzorger (Image by The Home of Fixers on Flickr at Flickr.com under CC BY-ND 2.0)
A heart under the belt
For their commitment, the caregivers are given some support on the Dag van de Mantelzorg. As you would say in Dutch, een hart onder de riem steken (literally: to stick a heart under the belt), which means as much as encouraging and looking after somebody. So what does this entail? Well, there are many possibilities, for example an applaus voor de mantelzorger (applause for the caregiver). Other government entities or organizations that give advice in terms of mantelzorg also make sure that the mantelzorgers in het zonnetje gezet worden (the caregivers are put into the sun – put in the spotlight; celebrated).
Applaus voor jezelf
The theme this year is applaus voor jezelf (applause for yourself). Many activities are being organized, and many small gestures are added to that. Banners, post cards, shout-outs, and talks and discussions about the topic are among of them.
Some vocabulary
| verzorgen |
to take care of / to care of |
| (de) mantelzorger |
caregiver |
| (het) familielid |
family member |
| ondersteunen |
to support |
| hulpbehoevend |
invalid / in need |
| druk |
busy |
| overweldigd |
overwhelming |
| verrijkend |
rewarding (e.g. in life) |
| dankbaar |
thankful |
| (het) applaus |
applause |
Are you a mantelzorger or do you know somebody who is?
Is there an activity that you will participate in today?
