"Day of Care" in Benediktbeuern: Holistic change of course necessary
Created: 10/23/2022, 7:00 p.m
In the introductory presentation on the "Day of Nursing" Michael Wittmann went into many adjustments.
District Administrator Josef Niedermaier (front, left) also took part in the discussion.
© Krinner
The "Day of Care" in Benediktbeuern offered an opportunity for exchange, time out and information.
There was also a lot of discussion about the prevailing grievances.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - For the individual citizen, the issue of care is often only an issue if he or she is an affected person or a relative of an affected person.
In view of the aging society, the number of cases is increasing - various studies show figures on demographic development and its consequences.
But despite this knowledge, politicians are not doing enough to successfully counter the increasing number of nursing cases with a simultaneous shortage of nursing staff.
That is the finding of Michael Wittmann, the managing director of the association of nurses in Bavaria.
"Day of Nursing": Information, exchange and time out for nursing staff
On Saturday, Wittmann gave the introductory lecture on the "Day of Care" at the Catholic Foundation University in Benediktbeuern.
This all-day event of district politics was primarily intended for information, for exchange and as a break for "all caregivers" and included lectures and workshops as well as wellness offers.
You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.
“Besides climate change, care is the greatest challenge of our time”
District Administrator Josef Niedermaier emphasized in his welcome speech that the topic of care must be given priority in the discussion in society as a whole.
The moderator of the day, Prof. Michael Spieker from the Benediktbeuern campus, underlined that this is necessary with the quote "Care is the greatest challenge of our time alongside climate change".
There are many things that need to be adjusted - such as raising the wages of nursing staff, offering flexible working hours and employment contracts as well as company apartments and kindergartens and reducing the excessive bureaucracy.
System change in German health policy: "We have to move towards more prevention"
In principle, however, according to Michael Wittmann, a system change must take place in German health policy.
"We have to move towards more prevention." For example, Germany has twice as many hospital beds as some other countries.
It is difficult to convey to the citizens when a clinic is to be closed.
In local politics, such a step means fewer votes for those responsible.
And sometimes angry reactions like "turnip down", as district administrator Niedermaier ironically noted.
"But the people in countries with fewer hospital beds are not sicker or undersupplied," explained Wittmann.
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In addition to lectures, information stands and workshops, there were also wellness offers for carers.
© Krinner
Not only nurses, but also appropriate educators are in short supply
The fact is that many nursing staff are tied up in all German hospitals, homes and nursing services.
In order to fill the increasing need for nursing staff in the future, it is not enough to promote the image of this profession.
"We also have a lack of appropriate educators in the schools." Employing specialists from third countries could be a selective solution, especially in urban centers, but less so in rural areas.
In addition, the number of assistants is clearly too low.
Efforts to build additional nursing homes are absurd if there are no staff.
The labor market is empty.
Only a holistic change of course could help now
Family care, in turn, increases the labor shortage in the economy.
Politicians have acted too little for too long, and now the only way to deal with the problem is with a holistic change of course.
"The entire hospital landscape has to be rebuilt," Wittmann concludes.
To do this, highly competent specialists would have to develop new concepts.
"We lack outpatient structures."
Even children should be made aware of a healthy lifestyle
With the prevention work it is important to start with the children - the importance of healthy nutrition, correct posture and sensible exercise must be made clear from an early age.
In order to get things going in general, politicians are required to change laws and transfer more decision-making power to the municipalities.
"So that they can react to regional needs," said Wittmann.
The catch, however, is that both politics and social organizations are stuck in their old structures and "the will to change is rather low".
By Rosie Bauer
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