2024-03-13 01:07:54
Millions of people care for people in need of care in addition to their paid work. They deserve recognition, time – and money, writes Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) in a guest article.
We all want the best care and support for those close to us in need of care. Also for ourselves if we ever need this help. This desire unites the generations – and at the same time presents us with major challenges.
Because: It’s not just skilled workers in nursing homes and outpatient care that are lacking. There are also a lack of places in inpatient care – and outpatient care services do not cover all regions of the republic. The entire care system and millions of people are groaning under the rising costs. And according to forecasts, the number of people in need of care will continue to rise, to 7.6 million in 2055.
The majority are cared for at home
What many people don’t know is that today, more than four million of the approximately five million people in need of care are supported and cared for at home – in familiar surroundings by familiar people. And that is basically something very nice! Because most people have the greatest desire to stay at home as long as possible.
The author
Lisa Paus (55) is Federal Minister for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Paus, who was born in Rheine in North Rhine-Westphalia, has been a member of Alliance 90/The Greens since 1995. She has been a member of the Bundestag for the party since 2009. Before she became minister in April 2022, she made a name for herself as a financial politician.
At the same time, most people like to look after people who are particularly close to them: More than seven million people in Germany provide care at home – relatives, friends, neighbors. Four million of them are employed.
Many people master the balancing act between work and care every day. Working daughters and sons look after both their own children and relatives in need of care. Spouses and partners take on care work. All of these employed people provide care “informally” – meaning they do not provide care as a full-time job and to this day do not receive sufficient financial support. Even if they reduce their working hours at work to provide care, their loss of income is not compensated. I think we have to end this financial disadvantage. Anyone who takes on responsibility for care must not fall into the poverty trap.
Beyond the limits of what can be tolerated
We must remember that the physical and psychological strain of care alone is high for caring employees. Often enough they go beyond the limits of what is bearable. In addition to their actual job, nurses sometimes take on personal care, cleaning and washing laundry, cooking or helping with meals. Sometimes an outpatient care service provides support – but often they do everything on their own.
At the same time, many organize appointments with doctors and make phone calls to health and nursing care insurance companies. They listen and give those in need of care time, understanding and comfort. They want to give something back to their loved ones. This “being there for each other” is part of the emotional glue that holds our society together.
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Currently, around ten percent of all working people care for loved ones in their own home. Almost every company employs employees with care responsibilities. And in the future there will be many more. And that will inevitably present employers with major challenges in keeping these skilled workers in the company in the balancing act between job and care.
More time and flexibility
There is complete agreement among experts that caring employees need more time and more flexibility in order to be able to remain in their jobs despite caring for them. More time and flexibility so that you can adapt to unplanned care processes and share care with several people.
Nobody should quit their job completely because of care – that’s what we have to and want to achieve in Germany. We finally need practical legal rules for companies, also in order to combat the cross-industry shortage of skilled workers. We are working hard on this in the federal government. Also for reasons of equality – because it is still mainly women who provide informal care. Especially since the family tree alone does not determine who is really close to us, those in need of care and carers should decide for themselves who will provide care at home.
We live in a society that cares – that wants to take care of those in need of care. A society that lives together day after day, across generational boundaries. With every supporting arm, every meal prepared, every kind word.