About us

De Wingerd is a psycho-geriatric residential home in the city of Leuven, named after its location: the vineyards and park of a former monastery, about 8,65 acres. The complex was renovated in 1986 and currently accomodates 97 residents, devided over five groups and ten 'service flats' or rather 'care flats' for couples. Our 'day care center' welcomes about 20 visitors a day.

By the end of 2008, all facilities will have moved to a new location. We are currently building a new servicecenter and residential complex based on the concept of small-scale living, healthcare automatisation and the implementation of new techologies. Our new complex will accomodate 137 residents, a 41 % increase.

De Wingerd specializes in Alzheimer's Dementia and other dementing illnesses. Our residents find themselves surrounded by family, friends, volunteers and the professional staff. All of us are continuously looking to create a warm environment, to establish excellence and quality in the lives of the residents.

Day-life is situated in the cosy and comfortable living-rooms, fitted and furnished as a real family home with a dining corner and kitchenette, a view on to and access to the gardens. Nights are spent upstairs in the private bedrooms, on this floor we have a cosy room for breakfast or an evening snack and a TV lounge, allowing personal bed-hours and eating habits, as if at home.

For each resident, efforts are made to continue past routines: people familiar with domestic tasks are invited to pick up these routines here. Our residents situation and their advanced age may mean they can only cope with few of these activities. Nevertheless, as long as some of these are feasible we enacourage people to participate.

Our home is a closed institution, because of the orientation disorders of our habitants. However we try to let them keep in touch with the 'outside world', through regular outings to the market or even a real holiday at the Belgian coast once a year. Furthermore our front door is always open for a visit of family and friends, we don't maintain visiting hours.

Although the general practitioner is freely chosen, there is a team of 3 doctors and 2 neuro-psychiatrists appointed to De Wingerd to coordinate treatment and medical care for our residents. Admission to a hospital is mostly avoided and in permanent consultation with the nursing team, treatment is always tailored to the individual needs.

Mortality rates are near to 100 % and the sickness progress is irreversible, but the emphasis remains on 'quality of life'; to the last day. Our goals are to take care of and insure decent human life, supplying a constant and well-coordinated medical and nursing attention.

De Wingerd also hosts MEMO, the Expertise Centre on Dementia.

If you care to exchange thoughts, share experiences or expertise, feel free to contact us at: wingerd@wingerd.info