WhatsApp Aruba nr. 5619671
Holistic Elderly Care & Dementia Care Solutions
Expert Care for Geriatric & Dementia Support
What we do
Aging is not a problem to solve—it is a life stage to honor.
At Flametree & Hummingbird, we believe that every older adult deserves care that is as dignified as it is expert, as personal as it is professional.
Led by Dr. Nienke Kock-Smits, a board-certified specialist in geriatric medicine, we provide holistic, home-based care management that helps seniors and their families navigate complex medical decisions with clarity, warmth, and confidence.
Whether your loved one is facing memory challenges, declining mobility, or the uncertainty of a new diagnosis, we meet you where you are—literally. Our services are designed to keep older adults safe, supported, and living with purpose in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible.
What We Do
We bridge the gap between primary and specialist care through our unique 1½ Line Care model—a collaborative approach that brings hospital-level expertise into your living room. Our services include:
- Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments
– Holistic evaluations of medical, cognitive, and environmental needs.
- Home-Based Care Coordination – Seamless management of medical, paramedical, and community services.
- Dementia & Memory Care – Expert diagnostics, behavioral support, and family guidance rooted in respect and understanding.
- Mental Competency Evaluations – Sensitive, thorough assessments for legal and decision-making clarity.
- Training & Advisory – Custom workshops and leadership coaching for care institutions, nursing homes, and professional teams.
Why Families & Institutions Trust Us
With deep roots in both the Netherlands and Aruba, Dr. Nienke brings a rare blend of international expertise and local cultural fluency. She has trained over 80 medical residents, advised care institutions across the Caribbean, and built a private network of professionals dedicated to one goal: quality of life, delivered at home.
Our work is guided by the VERENSO standards of Dutch geriatric excellence, but our approach is deeply human. We listen first. We advocate always. We treat every client as an individual with a history, not a case number.
For Families. For Professionals. For Dignity.
Flametree & Hummingbird is more than a medical practice—it is a partnership in care. Whether you are a family seeking guidance for a parent, a general practitioner looking for specialist collaboration, or an institution aiming to elevate your standards, we are here to guide, coach, and co-create solutions that feel human, inclusive, and effective.
Experienced professionals dedicated to your success.
Proven results that speak for themselves.
BON BINI! CUIDO DI HENDE DI EDAD, CALIDAD HALTO, NA BO CAS!
Welcome! Our Care Promise
Welcome to The Flametree & Hummingbird vba, your trusted partner in elderly care, dementia support, and care facilities management. Our team of specialists delivers tailored health strategies and operational excellence to improve quality of life. Discover our comprehensive services today.
Achieve Optimal Elderly Health Today
Transform Your Health with The Flametree & Hummingbird vba Health Consulting
At The Flametree & Hummingbird vba, we believe that good health is the foundation for a happy life. Our team of experienced health consultants are dedicated to helping you achieve optimal health and wellness through evidence-based practices. Whether you are looking to lose weight, improve your fitness, or manage a chronic condition, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Ready to upgrade Quality Of Life?
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help you achieve your health goals.
BON BINI, BON DIA, BON TARDI, BON NOCHI!
Expert Care & Facility Services
Both Nienke and Remo are dedicated to providing personalized services that cater to your unique needs, whether it's elderly care management or care-related facilities management.
The personal touch
Doctor Nienke
How Can Dr. Nienke Assist?
How Can Dr. Nienke Assist?
THE FLAMETREE & HUMMINGBIRD'S PRACTICE
Contact and Services
Our Practice & Consultancy can be reached via the contact form on this website or by telephone. Consultations and services are available Monday through Friday during regular office hours.
As every client has unique needs, care is tailored to each client. We offer flexible service packages tailored to each client's specific care requirements, wishes, and circumstances. Dr. Nienke’s Practice is an independent private practice, and fees are based on an hourly rate or an agreed care package.
Who is Dr. Nienke?
Dr. Nienke Kock-Smits is a Specialist in Geriatric Medicine with extensive international experience. She is the daughter of two physicians specialized in tropical medicine and was born in Tanzania. During her childhood, she lived in several countries, interspersed with periods in the Netherlands. Growing up in diverse cultural environments, attending international schools, and learning multiple languages fostered her interest in medicine and her desire to work internationally.
Dr. Nienke completed her medical degree at the University of Amsterdam and subsequently specialized in Geriatric Medicine at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. During her career in the Netherlands, she worked in somatic care, rehabilitation medicine, psychogeriatric care, and held management positions within various nursing home organizations.
Since 2011, Dr. Nienke has been living and working in Aruba as a Specialist in Geriatric Medicine. In addition to her clinical work, she has been actively involved in education and professional development. She has trained caregivers and nurses in innovative models of elderly care. She has served as a trainer in chronic care programs for general practitioners, IMSAN, and Amsterdam UMC (formerly VUmc).
Dr. Nienke has also supervised and mentored more than 80 general practice residents during their chronic care placements, contributing significantly to the development of healthcare professionals in both Aruba and the Netherlands.
Quality and Professional Standards
Quality of care is at the heart of Dr. Nienke’s Practice. Clinical care is guided by evidence-based protocols and guidelines developed by VERENSO, the Dutch professional association for Specialists in Geriatric Medicine.
Dr. Nienke is officially registered as a Specialist in Geriatric Medicine in both Aruba (AruBIG) and the Netherlands (BIG register), ensuring adherence to the highest professional and ethical standards of medical practice.
The practice is committed to providing compassionate, personalized, and high-quality care, with a focus on maintaining quality of life, independence, and dignity for older adults and vulnerable individuals.
How Can Dr. Nienke Assist?
How Can Dr. Nienke Assist?
How Can Dr. Nienke Assist?
DIAGNOSTICS
Are there any problems with memory or daily activities? Does your father or mother wander off? Is your auntie not aware anymore what is happening around her? Are there dementia related issues involved?
Diagnostics is a big part of knowing where to look for answers to help your loved one.
MENTAL COMPETENCE (COMPOS MENTIS)
Are there any doubts about somebody's capability to handle their own business? Can they still take correct decisions, comprehend relevant information, and take the right decisions for their situation? Can they think logically and see the difference between right and wrong?
Is there a case of a loved one with actitud and behavior which is incomprehensible or difficult? Are they not willing to accept the care given? Are there coping problems? Which role does the environment play in this?
PROBLEM BEHAVIOR
Is there a case of a loved one with actitud and behavior which is incomprehensible or difficult? Are they not willing to accept the care given? Are there coping problems? Which role does the environment play in this? Do you have a diagnosis?
TRAINING AND PRESENTATIONS
Do you have a need to have more information regarding demencia or how to cope with a family member? Or more in-depth knowledge regarding geriatric medicine or chronic diseases?
Dr. Nienke can help!
Why The Flametree & Hummingbird?
The name Flame Tree & Hummingbird reflects the values at the heart of our practice.
Inspired by the beauty of Aruba's and Africa's natural environment, the Flametree and Hummingbird symbolize the combination of strength, resilience, vitality, and compassion that guides our approach to care. We believe that good healthcare is not only about treating illness, but also about supporting quality of life, dignity, and meaningful connections.
Our Story
Who We Are
What We Offer
Our Purpose
Welcome to Flametree & Hummingbird, your trusted partner in compassionate geriatric care. Led by elderly care experts, we provide personalized support to enhance the quality of life for Elderly Citizens at home in Aruba and the Caribbean basin.
Our Purpose
What We Offer
Our Purpose
At The Flametree & Hummingbird VBA, we specialize in geriatric medicine and elderly care management. Our team and partners provide tailored solutions to improve the quality of life for senior citizens at home.
Trust us to enhance your loved one's quality of life and deliver compassionate support.
What We Offer
What We Offer
What We Offer
At The Flametree & Hummingbird vba, we are passionate about transforming elderly care through expert consulting. Led by Dr. Nienke and Remo, our team brings decades of experience in geriatric medicine, facilities management, and quality assurance. We are dedicated to helping care providers and organizations elevate their standards and deliver compassionate support.
Our Method
What We Offer
What We Offer
At The Flametree & Hummingbird VBA, we are a dedicated team of an elderly medicine expert and a management consultant specializing in elderly care and geriatric care management.
Our team combines medical expertise and operational experience to deliver comprehensive solutions that improve quality of life for seniors. We work closely with p
At The Flametree & Hummingbird VBA, we are a dedicated team of an elderly medicine expert and a management consultant specializing in elderly care and geriatric care management.
Our team combines medical expertise and operational experience to deliver comprehensive solutions that improve quality of life for seniors. We work closely with private and public care providers to ensure quality standards are met and exceeded.
Premier Home Health Care Services
Expert Support for Care Institutions
Dr. Nienke and elderly care consultant Remo Kock are available to companies, care institutions, and individuals seeking consultations, short-term observations, workshops, training, and projects requiring specific expertise in general geriatrics, palliative care, and dementia-related illnesses. Their services also encompass care facilities management for elderly care, ensuring that care environments meet the necessary standards for quality and accessibility.
**GERIATRIC EXPERTISE**
Dr. Nienke provides her expertise to companies and care institutions for consultations (contracted or in-call), short-term observations, workshops, trainings, and projects necessitating specialized knowledge in general geriatrics, palliative care, and dementia.
**DEMENTIA TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS**
Training is available for anyone interested in learning to manage dementia, covering both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The foundation of her approach is that a positive perspective yields positive outcomes.
Every individual deserves access to healthcare and a quality life.
(WHO)
The question remains: how can we achieve this?
- Dementia may affect anyone; how do we respond?
- What is the experience of living with dementia?
- Dementia does not strip individuals of their dignity; rather, it is our reactions and the environment that can do so.
- How can we make society more accessible for individuals with dementia?
- How can people lead safe and responsible lives at home for as long as possible?
Individuals with dementia cannot be held accountable for their condition; their ability to process stimuli diminishes. While learning new information becomes challenging, the emotional needs for social interaction, love, and intimacy remain. As individuals with dementia regress to earlier memories, they may experience anxiety and insecurity due to the increasing dependency on their environment, ultimately requiring 24/7 care.
The healthcare industry recognizes the terms primary and secondary care, which are well understood. Primary care is characterized by its accessibility, allowing individuals to seek care without a referral. Examples include general practitioners, dentists, and physiotherapists. Secondary care requires a referral from a general practitioner and includes specialized medical services provided in hospitals. Recently, a new category has emerged: one-and-a-half-line care, which serves as a bridge between primary and secondary care and highlights the importance of cooperation among practitioners.
As the aging population grows, the number of elderly patients is increasing, leading to a rising demand for care. To maintain affordable healthcare, an intermediate care form has emerged. One-and-a-half-line care involves collaboration between general practitioners and geriatric specialists, with specialists providing treatment advice to general practitioners, thereby facilitating accessible care close to home.
This care model fosters partnerships between general practitioners and medical specialists, promoting knowledge exchange. As the care needs for chronic conditions rise, the primary focus remains on the patient’s interests. One-and-a-half-line care merges the accessibility of primary care with the specialized knowledge of secondary care, enabling more efficient healthcare organization and helping to manage rising healthcare expenditures. Thus, Dr. Nienke can provide effective home healthcare, allowing clients to remain at home as long as possible.
In geriatric medicine, one-and-a-half-line care is already widely used, as general practitioners and other healthcare providers collaborate to coordinate care and enhance service quality. Terms like chain care and network care also describe these collaborative efforts. Dr. Nienke collaborates with medical and paramedical specialists to deliver the best care for her clients.
Working Together for Better Elder Care
CARE 4 ARUBA
The Flametree & Hummingbird is actively establishing a private network of professionals in Aruba's 1st-line care sector, aiming to address the complex care needs of the chronic care market. This initiative promotes collaboration among medical and paramedical professionals to provide home-based treatments for clients and their families.
The healthcare industry recognizes the terms primary and secondary care, which are well understood. Primary care is characterized by its accessibility, allowing individuals to seek care without a referral. Examples include general practitioners, dentists, and physiotherapists. Secondary care requires a referral from a general practitioner and includes specialized medical services provided in hospitals. Recently, a new category has emerged: one-and-a-half-line care, which serves as a bridge between primary and secondary care and highlights the importance of cooperation among practitioners.
One-and-a-half-line care operates at the intersection of primary and secondary care, emphasizing coordination, collaboration, and knowledge sharing between primary care providers—such as general practitioners—and secondary care providers, like geriatric medicine specialists, to deliver optimal home care services. This partnership is vital in ensuring quality care for elderly patients.
In geriatric medicine, one-and-a-half-line care is already widely used, as general practitioners and other healthcare providers collaborate to coordinate care and enhance service quality. Terms like chain care and network care also describe these collaborative efforts.
Client-Centered Care
Personal Care & Support Services
The Flametree & Hummingbird offer expert consultation services, available for both contracted and in-call clients, and provide short-term observations, workshops, training, and projects that necessitate specialized knowledge in general geriatrics, palliative care, and dementia.
If you need more information about dementia, chronic care management, or supporting a client’s family member, Dr. Nienke can create custom training programs. She frequently presents at conferences, sharing insights on geriatric medicine, palliative care management, and chronic diseases, all crucial aspects of effective zorgmanagement (care management).
Every individual deserves access to healthcare (WHO) and a quality life. The question remains: how can we achieve this?
Individuals with dementia cannot be held accountable for their condition; their ability to process stimuli diminishes. While learning new information becomes challenging, the emotional needs for social interaction, love, and intimacy remain. As individuals with dementia regress to earlier memories, they may experience anxiety and insecurity due to the increasing dependency on their environment, ultimately requiring 24/7 care.
As the aging population grows, the number of elderly patients is increasing, leading to a rising demand for care. To maintain affordable healthcare, an intermediate care form has emerged. One-and-a-half-line care involves collaboration between general practitioners and geriatric specialists, in which specialists provide treatment advice to general practitioners, facilitating accessible care close to home.
As the care needs for chronic conditions rise, the primary focus remains on the patient’s interests. One-and-a-half-line care merges the accessibility of primary care with the specialized knowledge of secondary care, enabling more efficient healthcare organization and helping to manage rising healthcare expenditures.