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Caregiver crisis: Who will take care of those in need?
In Lower Saxony, professional carers like Karola Bergmann are struggling with a staff shortage and reform-related challenges.
Caregiver crisis: Who will take care of those in need?
In the Celle district, the care system is facing a major challenge: professional carer Karola Bergmann, who has been in the service for 20 years and currently looks after 28 people, would like to go into a well-deserved retirement. But there is no successor in sight. This not only puts Bergmann in trouble, but the entire care situation in the district is extremely tense. How NDR reports, Bergmann sees herself as the ultimate responsible person for her clients until they either die or their successor can be arranged.
The head of the social affairs department, Wiebke Wietschel, emphasizes the urgent need to find new professional carers. There are currently only 42 professional carers for around 1,700 people cared for in the Celle district, which means an average of 40 clients per carer. A high workload that is already pushing many in the industry to their limits.
Prospects for new career supervisors
The lack of qualified successors is alarming: over 50% of professional carers in Lower Saxony are now older than 55 years. In addition, the reform of care law in 2023 introduced new access requirements. These stricter criteria deter potential interested parties - new entrants must provide proof of expertise and complete 270 hours of training, which can cost up to 6,000 euros, as also highlighted in the legal journal Lawyer's Journal.
Financial conditions are also tense. Many carers report outstanding payments from the courts, which causes them existential difficulties. The Association of Caregivers is therefore not only demanding fair remuneration, but also a reduction in bureaucracy in order to improve the situation. In addition, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Justice set up a federal-state working group to tackle possible changes to the law.
The challenges of everyday life
The actual challenges in the everyday working life of carers are diverse and range from social law issues to the need to actively secure the claims and rights of those cared for. A comprehensive overview of the social administration process is essential for acquiring the necessary information and services in the Social Security Code, such as the specialist portal Focus on guardianship law emphasized. Topics such as housing, health and social participation become central to the carers' everyday lives.
What remains is the hope that the urgently needed reform not only improves care law, but also creates the framework conditions for professional carers so that they can continue to do their important work. Because one thing is certain: the work of Karola Bergmann and all the other carers is indispensable for the well-being of those who need their support.