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Compulsory corona testing makes seniors lonely – there will be brief relaxations at Christmas

2022-12-21T09:17:34.539Z


Compulsory corona testing makes seniors lonely – there will be brief relaxations at Christmas Created: 12/21/2022, 10:08 am By: Katrin Woitsch Due to the compulsory testing, fewer visitors come to nursing homes. (Symbol photo) © Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/archive image Testing is still mandatory in nursing homes. As a result, some residents have fewer visitors. Because there are only a few test cen


Compulsory corona testing makes seniors lonely – there will be brief relaxations at Christmas

Created: 12/21/2022, 10:08 am

By: Katrin Woitsch

Due to the compulsory testing, fewer visitors come to nursing homes.

(Symbol photo) © Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/archive image

Testing is still mandatory in nursing homes.

As a result, some residents have fewer visitors.

Because there are only a few test centers left.

Munich – The fear of loneliness is what remains of the pandemic.

Sabine Maier often feels it in conversations with the residents of the BRK senior center in Altötting.

She runs the home - and has noticed for some time that there are fewer visitors.

This is due to the mandatory testing.

Because there are not many test centers left, the home offers on-site tests.

But only until 5 p.m.

Many working people would like to visit a resident after work, she reports.

"But some people don't do it because it's become so difficult to get a test."

Nursing homes in Bavaria often cannot offer tests themselves

The lack of understanding for the strict rule is great, Maier feels that in many conversations with relatives.

She also hopes that the regulation will soon be abolished.

"Corona is now really like the flu," she says.

The homes have it under control.

Other home managers in Bavaria are also observing that seniors are getting fewer visitors.

The federal government deliberately reduced the test capacities, emphasizes BRK spokesman Sohrab Taheri-Sohi.

Many facilities can no longer offer the tests on site.

There simply isn't enough staff for that.

Compulsory testing in nursing homes - relaxation will come over Christmas

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health sent a letter to the charities.

Relaxation is planned for a few days, from December 23 to January 9: Tests that are taken in a nursing home or a facility for people with disabilities can also be used on the same day for visits to other facilities.

Self-tests are also possible on site under supervision.

If this is not possible due to staff shortages, visitors can also carry out the self-tests without supervision.

You must then present the negative test or a self-declaration when entering the home.

This letter shows how high the burden of testing obligations is in the facilities, says Taheri-Sohi.

However, this calls the point of the obligation to test even more into question.

"Many visitors are expected, especially on the public holidays." The letter is also a logical consequence, since the federal government's obligation to test is not practical and implementable.

“Care is talked about too often and not enough with the carers, resulting in measures that are impractical.

We are talking about people who are trained to ensure the best possible protection against infection.

It would be an important political signal to give nursing this competence again by withdrawing the political protective measures.”

Corona test obligation: RK and Caritas call for more personal responsibility for nursing homes

This is exactly what the BRK and Caritas are demanding.

In their opinion, the institutions should be given more personal responsibility instead of regulations.

There is no understanding among the residents or their relatives that the same rules still apply as in the peak phase of the pandemic, emphasizes Caritas board member Gabriele Stark-Angermeier.

In most cases, the course of the pandemic is very mild among seniors.

This is also confirmed by Josef Jung, BRK district manager in the district of Altötting.

There are around 36 corona cases in the six BRK homes there.

Some residents are symptom-free, and not a single one had to go to the hospital, he reports.

Jung is also annoyed by the strict test rules.

Many visits would be lost as a result, he says.

Especially friendships.

"Only relatives take on the effort." He considers it an encroachment on fundamental rights to keep the residents of the home closed off in this way.

"The average length of stay in our homes is three years," he emphasizes.

"Some residents have lived their entire time with us in isolation."

Eliminating the obligation to test would not mean that the residents were unprotected, stresses Jung.

"There are many viral diseases, we have been dealing with them for years, we are professionals when it comes to hygiene and disinfection," he says.

He also doesn't believe in recommending relatives to do corona tests.

“It is advisable not to visit old or sick people if you do not feel healthy.

Just like most of us did before the pandemic.”

By the way: Our Bayern newsletter informs you about all the important stories from Bavaria.

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-12-21

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