Care terms, clearly explained
Wlz, Wmo, Zvw, pgb, vpt, mpt, CIZ, CAK… Dutch home care is full of abbreviations. On this page RytelZorg explains the key terms in plain language: what each one is, who is responsible and what it means for you. So you always know where you stand.
Laws and funding
In the Netherlands, care at home is paid for under four laws. Which law applies depends on your situation and the care you need.
Wet langdurige zorgWlz · Long-term Care Act
The Wlz covers people who permanently need intensive care, with supervision or care close at hand 24 hours a day, for example with advanced dementia or a serious physical condition. The CIZ assesses whether you are entitled to Wlz care; the zorgkantoor (care office) arranges it.
Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuningWmo 2015 · Social Support Act
The Wmo is carried out by your municipality (Leidschendam-Voorburg, The Hague, Wassenaar, Rijswijk). The municipality helps you live independently and take part in society, for example with guidance, domestic help, day activities, aids or home adaptations. A Wmo request leads to an assessment meeting, the so-called kitchen-table conversation.
ZorgverzekeringswetZvw · Health Insurance Act
The Zvw is your basic health insurance. It pays, among other things, for wijkverpleging (community nursing): nursing and personal care at home, for example after a hospital stay, with a chronic illness or in the last phase of life. A community nurse sets the indication.
JeugdwetYouth Act · care for children under 18
Care and support for children and young people under 18 falls under the Jeugdwet. The municipality is responsible, often through the Centre for Youth and Family. A pgb is also possible under the Jeugdwet, so parents can choose the care provider themselves.
Budget and delivery forms
Once it is clear which law pays for your care, the next question is how the care is delivered at home. These are the forms you will come across.
Persoonsgebonden budgetpgb · personal budget
With a pgb you receive a budget to buy your own care and choose your own care provider. A pgb exists under the Wlz, the Wmo, the Jeugdwet and the Zvw. For the Wlz, Wmo and Jeugdwet, the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) pays your care providers; with a Zvw pgb you submit claims to your health insurer.
Zorg in naturazin · care in kind
With care in kind, the municipality, the zorgkantoor or the health insurer arranges your care with a contracted provider. You have no administration to do, but less freedom of choice than with a pgb.
Volledig pakket thuisvpt · full package at home
A delivery form under the Wlz. You receive at home the complete care package you would otherwise get in a nursing home: personal care, nursing, guidance, meals and domestic help. One contracted provider delivers everything and arranges it with the zorgkantoor.
Modulair pakket thuismpt · modular package at home
Also a Wlz delivery form. With the mpt you choose separate modules of care, for example only nursing and personal care but no meals. The mpt can be combined with a pgb: part in kind, part with your own budget.
Particuliere zorgprivate care · self-funded
Care you pay for entirely yourself, without an indication, without waiting times and without the rules of a law or insurer. For example extra hours on top of your indication, temporary help after an operation, or care while an application is still being processed.
Eigen bijdrage and eigen risicocontribution (CAK) and deductible (insurer)
For Wlz care and most Wmo support you pay a contribution (eigen bijdrage) to the CAK; under the Wlz the amount depends on your income and assets. The deductible (eigen risico) belongs to your health insurance (Zvw) and does not apply to community nursing or to the GP.
Types of care at home
Care at home is more than one service. These are the forms of care and support you will find at RytelZorg and in Dutch home care.
Thuiszorghome care · the umbrella term
All care and support you receive in your own home: personal care, nursing, guidance and help with daily life. Home care can be paid for under the Wlz, the Wmo, the Zvw or privately.
Wijkverplegingcommunity nursing · nursing and care under the Zvw
Nursing and personal care at home, paid for by your basic insurance. A community nurse (bachelor level) assesses which care is needed and records this in an indication and a care plan. The team then delivers the care.
Persoonlijke verzorgingpersonal care · ADL
Help with daily personal care: washing, dressing, compression stockings, help with eating, medication as agreed and toileting. Always with respect for your privacy and your own pace.
Verplegingnursing · medical care at home
Nursing procedures at home, such as wound care, injections, medication management, catheter care and monitoring your health. Carried out by nurses, in consultation with your GP or specialist.
Dementiezorgdementia care
Care for people with dementia and their loved ones: structure, safety, a fixed daily routine and familiar faces. Calm and recognisability come first, also for the family carer.
Palliatieve en terminale zorgpalliative and end-of-life care
Care focused on comfort, relief of symptoms and quality of life when recovery is no longer possible. Palliative terminal care (PTZ) is care in the last phase of life, at home, in your own surroundings and with your loved ones close by.
24-uurszorg24-hour care · continuous care close by
With 24-hour care, a caregiver is present or immediately on call day and night. This allows someone to stay safely at home during a vulnerable period, with peace of mind for the family.
Mantelzorg, mantelzorgondersteuning and respijtzorgfamily care, carer support and respite care
Mantelzorg is the unpaid care given by family, friends or neighbours. Mantelzorgondersteuning helps the family carer to keep going: advice, practical help and sometimes a financial appreciation from the municipality. Respijtzorg is temporary replacement so the family carer can catch their breath.
Reablementworking on independence
A modern approach in home care: the caregiver does not take everything over, but helps you to do daily tasks yourself again, for example after a fall, an operation or a hospital stay. The goal: staying as independent as possible.
Caregiver, verzorgende and verpleegkundigewho comes to your home?
A care assistant (level 2) supports daily personal care, a qualified carer (verzorgende IG, level 3) provides personal care and simple nursing procedures, and a nurse (verpleegkundige, level 4 or bachelor) provides nursing. The community nurse (bachelor) sets the indication. Nurses are registered in the Dutch BIG register.
Organisations and terms
You will come across these organisations and terms when applying for care. We explain them, so letters and forms are no longer a puzzle.
CIZCentrum indicatiestelling zorg · care assessment centre
The CIZ independently assesses whether you are entitled to Wlz care. You apply with DigiD, or someone applies on your behalf with an authorisation. The CIZ normally decides within six weeks.
Zorgkantoorcare office · carries out the Wlz
The zorgkantoor arranges Wlz care in your region: it contracts providers, grants the pgb and checks the budget plan. For the Haaglanden region this is CZ Zorgkantoor.
SVBSociale Verzekeringsbank · Social Insurance Bank
The SVB manages the pgb budget for the Wlz, the Wmo and the Jeugdwet and pays your care providers on the basis of the approved care agreement and the hours submitted. This is called trekkingsrecht (drawing rights).
CAKCentraal Administratie Kantoor
The CAK calculates and collects the contribution for the Wlz and the Wmo. On the CAK website you can calculate in advance what you will pay.
Indicatieindication · the decision about your care
An indication is the official decision on which care you need and how much. Under the Wlz the CIZ sets the indication, for community nursing the community nurse does, and under the Wmo the municipality investigates after your request.
Zorgplancare plan
The care plan records your goals, the agreements and the care you receive. It is drawn up together with you, evaluated regularly and adjusted when your situation changes. So everyone, including your family and the GP, knows what has been agreed.
Onafhankelijke cliëntondersteuningindependent client support · free help with your application
Everyone is entitled to free, independent client support: help with applying for and arranging care, through the municipality (Wmo) or the zorgkantoor (Wlz). The supporter stands beside you and is not linked to a care provider.
Wkkgz and BIG registerquality, complaints and competence
The Care Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz) obliges every care provider to deliver good care, to have a complaints officer and an independent disputes body. In the BIG register you can check whether a nurse is qualified.
Which scheme suits you?
Do the free care check or get in touch. We think along with you about the application, the budget and care at home, in your own language.
Sources: Government of the Netherlands, Regelhulp, CIZ, SVB, CAK and Zorginstituut Nederland. This is general information; the organisation concerned always decides on your personal situation.