Behoeftepeil

Behoeftepeil is a Dutch term that refers to the level of need or care intensity required by an individual. It expresses how much assistance, supervision, or nursing support a person needs in daily life and to maintain safety and well-being. The concept is used to inform decisions about care provisions and resource allocation.

The word combines behoefte (need) and peil (level or gauge). It is primarily used in the Netherlands and in Flemish-speaking parts of Belgium within social care, health care planning, and welfare contexts.

Behoeftepeil is applied by municipalities, care providers, and insurers to determine the most appropriate care package, eligibility for subsidies, and distribution of resources. It helps decide whether a person should receive home care, residential care, or more intensive nursing support. Assessments are typically part of intake processes and periodic re-evaluations, and the resulting level or score influences the formal support granted.

Measurement can involve professionals such as care workers and social workers using standardized instruments or professional judgment, sometimes in combination with self-reported information from the person or their caregivers. The outcome may be presented as qualitative levels (e.g., low, medium, high) or as a numerical score, and is sometimes linked to related concepts like zorgzwaarte (care intensity) or indicatie (care indication) used for funding decisions.

Limitations include potential subjectivity and variability between municipalities, the possibility of outdated assessments not reflecting changing needs, and concerns about stigma or misallocation if not regularly updated.

See also: zorgzwaartepakket, indicatie, intake, care planning.