Supervisor for disabled care: 'Our residents only have each other'

The Netherlands is in the grip of corona. Most people stay at home as much as possible, while healthcare providers are fighting the severe consequences of the virus and doing everything they can to do so. Mirjam Knots is a disability care counselor at the Gemiva-SVG Group in Leiden. She helps clients with brushing their teeth, showering, drying or applying sunscreen. That is not possible at a distance of one and a half meters.

Mirjam Knots: ‘Eating together is no longer an option. Our residents, 14 clients between 23 and 89 years old with a (slight) intellectual disability, are allowed almost nothing. No shopping, no going to work, no receiving family. That last one in particular catches on. They only have each other and the supervisors.

‘That’s very sad. At the same time, it also produces something beautiful. The two of us cook, I visit their apartment, we drink coffee together. They all receive personal attention. I think it’s a special time in that regard. I realize very well how important my work is now, and I am happy that I can do something for my clients.

‘I stick to the rules as best I can, but we do have to help our clients brush their teeth, take a shower, dry themselves or rub them in. That is not possible at a distance of one and a half meters. And if someone has to cry a lot, I just put an arm around them. Precisely because our clients are not linguistic, physical contact is important at such a time.

‘We wear gloves and I wash my hands often. At the beginning of the corona crisis, I was afraid that I would infect my clients or that I would bring the virus home to my two children. Now that after four weeks no one is sick, I am a bit more relaxed about that. But I don’t see anyone in private. And when I see or hear that people don’t follow the rules, I can get really excited about that.’