About us

We are the founders of CrossCare

Health and Community Services CC

When we first arrived in Namibia and visited ADN (Alzheimer Dementia Namibia), Claudine said on the second day: “I want to live and work here…”

Claudine has a passion for care, and Ton made a major change in 2019. In 2017, his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of fifty and passed away five and a half years later as a result. He has since dedicated himself fully to advocating for people with dementia and their loved ones. In recent years, Ton has launched various healthcare projects in the Netherlands. He also regularly speaks at events and in the media about the different challenges and ethical issues in health care.

Since early 2023, the collaboration with Carevisie began. Carevisie guides nurses from Suriname and Indonesia to the Netherlands. These additional nurses can make a valuable contribution to the shortage of nurses in the Netherlands. They are often unemployed in their home countries and are given the chance to build a future in the Netherlands. Ton also sees the importance of their culture. They help create a multicultural approach to daily care for people with dementia.

In the same period, Ton also met Berrie Holtzhausen. That was during an international event in Spain: “Walking the Talk for Dementia.” Along with 70 participants from 30 countries, they walked to Santiago de Compostela. It was a modified route where not only scientists, researchers, and doctors participated, but also people living with dementia.

Berrie spoke about the situation in Namibia, where people with dementia suffer because of beliefs in witchcraft. An incredible story that we no longer hear about in the Western world, but in many parts of the world, people still believe in it. Anyone who is “not normal” can be accused of being a witch, with all the consequences that entails.

Berrie sought out the “witches” – the people with dementia – and freed them by sharing knowledge about dementia. A documentary was made called “African Witchfinder.” It’s a thirty-minute documentary.

Documentary

When Ton asked, “How can I help you?” Berrie responded that we had to see it for ourselves. We needed to observe in Namibia and meet with tribal chiefs under their tree. But it wasn’t until April 2025 that we were able to visit Berrie in Namibia.

Berrie took us on a journey to the tribes in the north, where we were able to meet several people with dementia. Women who had been accused of being witches and had to fight for their lives. This is so unreal to us, but for them it is the only way to explain unusual behavior.

Near Rundu, we were invited by a tribal chief to meet with him under his tree. This is a local custom, and there we discussed establishing a “community group,” where people would collectively cultivate a piece of land with grains and vegetables.

And finally, we visited the ADN center, which was established by Berrie and is now run daily together with his daughter, Sufrani. It is a nursing home (or family home, as they call it) that we in the Netherlands could truly learn from. It is very special and completely focused on the person and on what is still possible. The ADN center is located in Swakopmund and cares for people from all over Namibia.

Together with Claudine, we were allowed to help care for the residents. The doors were not locked and there were still thresholds, sliding doors, small staircases, etc. Nothing was ‘adapted,’ everything was left as we were used to. And how we laughed with them and when they spoke slowly, we could understand each other in both Afrikaans and Dutch.

This was the moment when we made our decision. We are going to live here and set up projects that can have an impact on care both in Namibia and in the Netherlands. On the quality of life for people with dementia, increasing knowledge about dementia among families and villagers, and by offering unemployed nurses in Namibia a future.

Collaboration

With our company in Namibia, we will first train and educate (unemployed) nurses in Namibia at ADN in Swakopmund. There, they learn the knowledge and vision of ADN regarding dementia care / support. Then they will do practical training in nursing homes in the Netherlands. In this way, the nurses develop a great deal of practical experience, which they can use when they return to Namibia.

We want to share the vision and working methods of ADN in the Netherlands. Their approach and expertise inspire us and can contribute to the debate among policymakers. How truly person-centred care can be delivered. Providing support instead of taking over all tasks, and no use of antipsychotic medication. Letting go of rigid protocols, focusing on what is still possible.

Go to ADN

Collaboration?

Please fill in the contact form and we will respond as soon as possible.

+31627522289
info@crosscarenamibia.com
Contact us