Curanum closure in Hameln: nursing staff and seniors in need!

Curanum closure in Hameln: nursing staff and seniors in need!

The situation surrounding the closure of the Curanum retirement home in Hamelin is causing waves and unrest. Many employees are affected, including a nurse who is very critical of the operator Korian's decision. This positive and well-coordinated community will only exist until the end of July, when outpatient care will be discontinued, followed by inpatient care, which will end at the end of November. On June 24th, just one day before the residents were informed, the employees also found out about this drastic decision. Korian's insufficient transparency is a major disadvantage for this employee; She explains that the company is “not very transparent” about the reasons for the closure, which many find inadequate. Documents about formal dismissals have not yet been received by the nursing staff.

“It’s like a bolt from the blue,” said the nurse, who for many employees also reflects a kind of family bond in Curanum. Many of them have viewed the facility as their second home and suddenly they are left with nothing. Young and middle-aged nursing staff in particular still have a good chance of finding new jobs, but the emotional burden cannot be underestimated, especially when it comes to supporting seniors. The first parades took place on June 27th and were accompanied by emotional moments. The nursing service management is making great efforts to find alternative accommodation for those in need of care.

The situation of nursing in Germany

The closure of Curanum is part of a larger problem in German care. The nursing shortage has been an urgent issue for years, and this closure also shows how acute the shortage of skilled workers is. This situation has already forced many nurses to give up their profession, compounded by poor working conditions and inadequate pay. Although the Corona crisis has drawn attention to the grievances, the situation of the nursing staff has not changed much. A survey shows that 94% of those surveyed are in favor of better pay and working conditions for employees in systemically important professions, which once again underlines the urgency of the reforms.

Korian managing director Rémi Boyer thanks over 22,000 employees worldwide, but also emphasizes the need for political reforms in the care sector: sustainable financing and improvements in working conditions are essential. Reducing bureaucratic hurdles and making work processes more efficient are also a major challenge. Without reform, the shortage of nursing staff will only increase, endangering the quality of care

Although Korian offers discussions about alternative employment opportunities in other locations, many of these locations often seem too far away. A planned summer festival on August 15th was also canceled, allegedly for cost reasons. The associated savings could further aggravate the already tense conditions.

Looking into the future

Local caregivers continue to struggle to provide seniors with a decent quality of life, while at the same time struggling with insecurities and emotional stress themselves. It remains to be seen how the employees' professional futures will develop. The closure of Curanum may be just a drop in the ocean of challenges facing the care industry, but it shines a bright light on the urgent need for reform across the industry. The need for action has become even clearer due to the current events in Hamelin.