Wellbeing on Prescription

What is ‘Wellbeing on Prescription’?

In Apeldoorn, we work hard to promote the health of our residents. In doing so, we look beyond just medical care. Sometimes people feel lonely, are under a lot of stress or are struggling to cope with loss. Problems like these can lead to physical symptoms, such as headaches or back pain. People often end up seeing their GP or a healthcare professional (such as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist). However, medical care does not always help to tackle the real cause.

Through the ‘Wellbeing on Prescription’ scheme, GPs and paramedics can refer people directly to a wellbeing coach. A wellbeing coach is a social worker from Stimenz. The coach takes the time to talk about what is really going on in a person’s life. Together, they look at activities or opportunities in the local area, such as a wellbeing activity. The coach helps the resident find suitable support and ensures that they regain a better grip on their life.

Wellbeing coaches

From 2026, ten Stimenz wellbeing coaches will be working in the municipality of Apeldoorn. They are very familiar with the local services on offer: voluntary work, group activities and other forms of informal support. They also work alongside the neighbourhood teams at Samen055 and with health initiatives such as the Lifestyle Advice Centre and the exercise coaches. In addition, they liaise with GPs and paramedical professionals. The focus of the wellbeing coach is on empowering residents to take control of their own lives, within their own social environment and in their own neighbourhood.

Register via your GP or paramedic

From February 2026, all GPs in the municipality of Apeldoorn will be able to refer residents to the wellbeing coaches. From March 2026, nine paramedical practices will also begin offering ‘Wellbeing on Prescription’. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and podiatrists from these practices will then also be able to refer residents. During the consultation, the GP or paramedic will discuss whether ‘Wellbeing on Prescription’ is appropriate. The wellbeing coach will receive the referral and will contact the resident directly. The resident does not need to take any action. By 2027, all paramedical practices will be able to make use of ‘Wellbeing on Prescription’.

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Additional funding for implementation

To enable the ‘Wellbeing on Prescription’ scheme in the municipality of Apeldoorn, a transformation plan has been submitted to the health insurer Zilveren Kruis. Under the Integrated Care Agreement, additional funding has been allocated for the period up to and including 2027. The implementation of ‘Wellbeing on Prescription’ is a collaboration between the municipality of Apeldoorn, the general practitioners’ organisation HOOG, the wellbeing organisation Stimenz and the paramedical partnership PAZeo.