The angel of the elderly puts an end to it: care critic Claus Fussek from Munich is leaving his office after 40 years

Created: 01/19/2022, 10:15 am

By: Armin Geier

Claus Fussek, known for denouncing the grievances in elderly care, is leaving his office on Klenzestrasse.

© Achim Frank Schmidt

After 40 years, the care critic Claus Fussek is retiring.

For four decades he fought for the dignity of seniors.

The social fighter in the tz interview.

Munich: Claus Fussek* (68) carefully lifts an old poster from the wall. "I'll take that with me too," says the Munich resident quietly and puts the sign in one of the moving boxes. Yes, the angel of the elderly - he clears the field. Germany's most famous care critic retires. After more than 40 years of fighting for the dignity of the elderly. His office on Klenzestrasse will soon be empty. "Now a few home operators can be happy," he says with his cheeky grin.

Sure, Fussek was and is feared in the scene - among the black sheep who just want to make a lot of money quickly with the care of the elderly.

On the other hand, he is admired by many people: for his courage in addressing the problems.

Loud, unyielding.

Our editor Armin Geier conducted a farewell interview with the social activist - and talked to him about his best and worst moments, about successes and failure - and about the fear of retirement.

Claus Fussek: Nursing critic says goodbye

Mr. Fussek, you're already packing up.

A sad moment?

Or do you also feel relief?

Claus Fussek: To be honest, it's very difficult for me.

This was my life's work, the office almost my home.

But January 31st is my last day.

I will miss all of that.

First of all: After your years of work against the abuses in care - has the situation in the country improved in any way?

Not really!

At night, one nurse is often still responsible for 50 residents, documentation is often falsified, and people in Bavaria are still tied to their beds.

And of course the pandemic has made things even harder for the good, dedicated caregivers.

Have you failed in your work?

Sometimes yes.

I would have liked to see more improvements.

I was often just the bearer of bad news.

Fussek's most beautiful moment in all those years

Well, at least you managed with the then Health Minister Christa Stewens in the mid-2000s that the home checks finally have to be carried out unannounced.

That's correct.

Before that, some district administrators called their nursing home owner friends and said: 'You, we'll stop by next Wednesday.

Clean up'.

Today unthinkable...

Hopefully.

I'm not entirely sure.

What was your best moment over the years?

In 2007, when my friend Dieter Hildebrandt appeared at the nursing regulars' table, the whole Löwenbräukeller was jam-packed.

We really took the grievances in care outside.

That's also a merit...

Hmm, thanks to my colleagues and me, at least in and around Munich, nobody can say that they have never heard of the topic.

Nursing critic Claus Fussek: Around 50,000 cases in 40 years

And what was the worst moment?

There were many of them - but always the same: When I noticed again that I'm a fighter - on a topic where there shouldn't really be any opponents.

Everyone is for good care, right?

Except for the greedy, black sheep.

I agree.

That's the problem.

And realizing that again and again, it hurts.

What do you actually do with all these file folders here in the office?

These are all cases of relatives and people in need of care who have turned to me for help.

I counted them once.

Around 50 000 fates.

After all, we were able to help many.

Care critic Fussek says goodbye to retirement

You're not taking that with you when you retire, are you?

Not home.

That would be too emotional, a problem.

But I certainly won't throw them away.

I find a place, these are testimonies of the time.

Sounds like you'll be keeping an eye on the issues in care...

I sure will.

But from a distance.

And retired.

What are the plans there?

I will garden a lot.

i love my garden

Also, I will finally be able to spend more time with my family.

And as a lion fan, I plan to go to the Löwenstüberl once a week.

Sounds good.

I'm a bit scared: I still can't really imagine it.

(age) *tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA