Dutch Care Home Offers Addiction Support for Seniors

Older adults battling addiction now have a place to call home in Nijmegen, Netherlands, where a groundbreaking care facility is welcoming residents others turned away.

Zilverspar, a 36-room unit run by care organization De Waalboog, opened in November 2025 with a unique mission. It provides standard nursing care while allowing residents controlled, agreed-upon amounts of alcohol, cannabis, or methadone under medical supervision.

The facility addresses a painful reality: seniors with addiction often can't get into regular nursing homes, yet they're too frail for mental health facilities or addiction housing. Dr. Ewoud de Jong, who works at the home, says these vulnerable people were literally falling through the cracks of the healthcare system.

One resident, Door, spent years addicted to cocaine and heroin. Now she takes methadone twice daily in a safe, supportive environment. Residents can come and go freely, maintaining their dignity and independence while receiving the care they need.

The substances are treated as "a kind of daily necessity" for residents, De Jong explains. Amounts and timing are fixed through agreements between residents and caregivers, creating structure without shame.

The Ripple Effect

Healthcare professionals are taking notice of this compassionate approach. Bianca Buurman, who leads the Dutch association for nurses and carers, points out that nursing homes typically lack psychiatric expertise while mental health facilities struggle with physical care. Combining both could transform care for a forgotten population.

The program prioritizes wellbeing and regulated use over total abstinence. Staff discuss each resident's progress weekly, but the goal isn't necessarily quitting. If someone improves enough that quitting becomes possible, the facility considers it a bonus, not an expectation.

Alcohol remains the most common addiction treated by Dutch specialists, especially among older people. For decades, these individuals faced an impossible choice: suffer alone or age without proper care.

Some experts urge caution, wanting regular reviews and continued encouragement to reduce use. But De Waalboog is clear about its mission: meeting people where they are, with dignity and medical support.

The facility represents a simple but radical idea: everyone deserves quality care in their later years, regardless of their struggles.