As of: February 20, 2024, 7:00 a.m
By: Uta Künkler
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“We are extremely colorful,” says Angelina Di Virgilio, head of the Heiliggeist-Stift Erding (beige cardigan).
It employs nursing and support staff from dozens of nations, including (from left) Nurie Amiri (Afghanistan), Regat Kibrealem (Eritrea), Angelika Rumpfinger (Bavaria, with pet dog Emma), Aleksandar Damjanovic (in the background, team leader from Bosnia) and Mengstab Woldetensae (Eritrea).
Tolerant climate in the team Good experiences with “Triple Win” Clinic offers integration assistance © Uta Künkler
An entire industry would be lost without migrants: up to 70 percent of the nursing staff in Erdingen facilities come from abroad.
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– “This is a table, a bed, a cupboard.” Simple means such as pictures of a room are enough for Sabine Schwädt for language lessons.
The former German teacher is a resident of the Heiliggeist-Stift Erding - and is still offering her help at the age of 81.
Her protégés are nursing assistants, housekeepers and specialists from all over the world.
“We are extremely colorful,” says facility manager Angelina Di Virgilio.
Some new people come to Erding without any knowledge of German, reports Di Virgilio.
Like the young woman from Uzbekistan who completed her federal voluntary service here last year.
In every free minute she went to Schwädt and studied vocabulary.
With success.
After a year, the 27-year-old completed her advanced language test with her left hand.
Tens of nations work under one roof
Tens of nations work here under one roof.
About 70 percent have a migrant background, says Di Virgilio.
They come from southeastern Europe, the Philippines, Kenya or Eritrea.
Of course there is a need for discussion when so many cultures come together.
For example between Serbs and Bosnians or Russians and Ukrainians.
But the climate is tolerant, says the Italian Di Virgilio.
She rarely experiences racist hostility from residents.
“People all know how happy we are to have the help,” says Di Virgilio.
“Without foreign forces we could close immediately.
We rely heavily on them.”
Things look no different around the corner in Fischer's senior center.
There, too, the employees in geriatric care come from 40 different nations, estimates Matthias Vogele, managing director of the foundation.
More than half have a migration background.
The situation in nursing is somewhat less colorful: only one in four specialists and assistants at the Erding Clinic comes from abroad, says spokesman Markus Hautmann.
Nevertheless, the following also applies here: “Without them it’s no longer possible.”
Good experiences with the state program “Triple Win”
According to estimates by the Barmer Replacement Fund, there will be a shortage of around 180,000 nursing staff in Germany in 2030.
Because there are more and more old people and too few young people.
Nurses from abroad are supposed to narrow the gap.
Ministers go on recruiting trips, the state sets up programs like “Triple Win” that are intended to recruit skilled workers from non-EU countries.
The Erding Clinic and the kbo Clinic in Taufkirchen have had good experiences with “Triple Win”.
“We have new colleagues from the Philippines, among other things,” says kbo spokesman Henner Luettecke.
“We will expand this.” Hautmann adds: “It won’t work without help from government programs and placement agencies.”
The biggest sticking point is the language
The road to Germany is still long.
The biggest sticking point: the language.
“Unfortunately, without excellent German, there is no point in geriatric care,” says Vogele.
Many residents are demented - and speak broad Bavarian.
Your knowledge of German has to be solid.
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In order to come to Germany as a skilled worker from third countries, applicants must have a qualification that is recognized here.
Alternatively, the institutions can provide training themselves.
Fischer's senior center has currently sent eight employees to the school for one-year qualifications as nursing assistants, and the Heiliggeist-Stift has sent four.
The clinics in Erding and Taufkirchen also rely on their own training in vocational schools.
The two Erdingen retirement homes have no problems – yet – filling vacancies.
Both pay according to the tariff and offer many social benefits.
And both obviously enjoy a good reputation; unsolicited applications keep coming in - few from within Germany, many from the Balkan states.
The Heiliggeist-Stift also recruits staff via the Internet and is active in social networks.
Like the clinics, Fischer's Foundation offers affordable housing.
With the high rents, this is “a guarantee for us that we can attract new employees,” says Vogele.
There are currently 30 full-time nursing positions vacant at the Erdinger Clinic
At the Erding Clinic, 30 full-time nursing positions are currently unfilled, says Hautmann.
A lot of effort is being made to recruit forces from third countries.
For example, there is an integration program to support newcomers - from plane tickets to German courses to accompaniment in the supermarket.
So nursing has long been multinational.
“Of course, worlds meet here,” says Di Virgilio from the Holy Spirit Monastery.
But: “We can do it well, the employees as well as the residents.
We are there for each other.” Just like resident Schwädt and her student from Uzbekistan.
The 27-year-old is now doing a hotel industry apprenticeship in Munich.
She has found her new home in Germany - also thanks to the German lessons in the retirement home.