Community starts working groups: Securing the future of care in Lüneburg!

Community starts working groups: Securing the future of care in Lüneburg!

The urgency of enabling older people to live a self-determined life in a familiar environment is becoming increasingly important in the Lüneburg district. Four regional working groups will start in January 2026 in Lüneburg, Bardowick, Neetze and Embsen, based around the guiding goal of “Living at home longer – self-determined and active into old age”. An invitation to everyone who works in the area of ​​aging and care serves to stimulate exchange, networking and cooperation. How Lüne blog reported, the working group dates have been set for January 21st and 28th: ​​the actors will meet in Lüneburg and Bardowick on the 21st, while the rounds in Neetze and Embsen will take place a week later.

Dr. Inge Voltmann-Hummes, the deputy district administrator, describes care as a “Herculean task”. This is reflected in the numbers: around 80,000 people live in Lüneburg, one in four of whom is over 65 years old. Forecasts indicate that in the next 20 years around 80% of those in need of care will be cared for in their own homes - a major concern for cities, municipalities and districts. The challenges of the coming years are clear: support for those in need of care must be ensured, which requires a variety of measures.

Need for strong networking

An essential element in solving these challenges will be the regional conference on aging and care (ReKAP), which is intended to network the actors in a meaningful way. We also talk about adapting living environments and offerings for older people in order to increase the quality of life in old age. In addition to the further development of the living environment, advice, information, cultural and exercise offerings are also essential. In addition, medical and physiotherapeutic care in rural areas must be improved and mobility promoted.

The integration of digital solutions and AI into long-term care is particularly important. Research teams are working intensively on these topics in order to master the challenges of demographic change. Loud Project sponsor DLR The need for nursing and care services in Germany is enormous due to the continuously increasing number of very old people and those in need of care. The shortage of skilled workers in particular is aggravating this problem, but at the same time there is also an opportunity to make everyday care easier and relieve the burden on relatives through digital assistance systems.

Setting the course for the future

In the coming period there will be a growing need to improve the general conditions in the nursing profession and to increase the attractiveness of this industry. Foreign nursing staff are becoming increasingly important in order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. The integration and support of foreign skilled workers is an important approach that must be pursued more intensively in the future. Research should now focus even more specifically on adapting long-term care structures to demographic change.

Overall, it is clear: consideration for the needs of older people is a central issue that affects all areas of society. To overcome these challenges, a joint commitment from the entire community is necessary. The upcoming information event held by the Senior Citizens' Advisory Board at the beginning of November 2025, with around 80 participants, impressively demonstrated how great the interest is in advocating for the needs of older people.

Anyone who would like to take part in the working groups can register directly with Ms Elena Navas Ropero: telephone 04131 26 1022 or by email elena.navasropero@landkreis-lueneburg.de. A good knack for dealing with the challenges of old age is required, and now is the time to take action. At the same time, it is clear that politicians are also required to develop solutions for this important issue and implement them in the long term.