VTZ Rotterdam

Founded in 1986, VTZ Rotterdam is a charity based in Rotterdam, Netherlands working on health, elderly care.

VTZ Rotterdam is a Dutch foundation (Stichting Vrijwilligers Terminale Zorg Rotterdam) that supports people in the last phase of life and their carers in the Rotterdam region. Trained volunteers provide time, attention and practical support in the home setting, so that people can be cared for and die at home. Medical and nursing care is provided by professional care workers; volunteers work alongside community nurses and palliative nurses, and give carers time to rest. Services are free of charge to clients and carers. The organisation recruits, selects, trains and coordinates volunteers, who complete a basic training and take part in additional courses and themed meetings. VTZ also provides information about dying at home and applies a quality framework based on the Dutch palliative care quality standard. Volunteers are deployed across Rotterdam, Barendrecht, Heijplaat, Hoogvliet, Pernis, Poortugaal, Rhoon and Ridderkerk. The foundation was founded in 1986 as part of Thuiszorg Rotterdam and became an independent foundation in 1997. It is an ANBI-status public-benefit organisation funded in part by government contributions, which do not cover full costs, and by donors. It is a member of the umbrella body VPTZ Nederland, which has over 200 member organisations.