A multidisciplinary substantiated helping hand for residential locations where next of kin are not allowed to come due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The coronavirus has affected the daily life of people with a disability. Especially for people receiving long-term care and living on a residential care location, which applies to more than 70.000 people in the Netherlands. In March, these residents were suddenly not allowed anymore to receive any visitors, not even their family. The residents were also prohibited from visiting their family and friends. It was advised that instead of making physical visits, people should now call each other as much as possible. Via a video connection they would also be able to see each other. Some people are fine with video calling; however, others are not able to make use of calling or video. It is not sufficiently clear for which people these ‘digital visits’ are feasible and appealing. 

In this project, we identify for whom 'digital visits' are feasible and appealing. We also examine in which way residential care locations can support these ‘digital visits’. During these last months, much experience was gained regarding different forms of digital visits, and the preconditions to facilitate this. We join these experiences with scientific knowledge on the possibilities, feasibility and linkage of the use of ICT-resources for social contact. These insights will be processed in a written tool for custom work on whether or not digital visitation can be used when physical visits are not possible or allowed.  

If you have any questions about this study, please contact Anne Tharner: a.tharner@vu.nl


This is an initiative taken by APH researchers as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. If you have an initiative to be listed as well, please email us: aph@amsterdamumc.nl.

See all APH COVID-19 initiatives