Nordic Film Days: Films highlight care and loneliness in Germany!

Nordic Film Days: Films highlight care and loneliness in Germany!

Today it's all about exciting topics relating to nursing and health, which will be the focus of this year's Nordic Film Days in Lübeck. Under the motto “Films about care and health” a variety of films will be presented that shed light on the challenges and everyday life in the health sector. A look at the selection shows that these films often use documentary style devices to bring the real problems that are commonplace in nursing closer to a broad audience.

The Danish feature film “Home Sweet Home”, which follows the life of a senior carer, is a real eye-catcher. She faces the everyday challenges of home care, a topic that is funded by the municipality in Denmark. This is in tension with the classic German medical series “Schwarzwaldklinik”, which is broadcasting old episodes to mark its 40th anniversary. How ln-online.de reports, the series idealizes everyday hospital life, while the more recent films paint a much more realistic picture of the healthcare system.

Loneliness in old age

But what does all this have to do with loneliness? A frightening statistic shows that around one in ten older people in Germany is affected by loneliness. As Maltese studies show, the number of social contacts often decreases as people age, which increases the risk of isolation. Older people in particular often experience an objectively measurable lack of social relationships, which leads to an increased risk of feeling alone. The topic can also be found in the film content presentations at the Nordic Film Days.

In addition, the German short film “Keine Zeit/No Time” deals with everyday life in a nursing service and the associated loneliness in old age, and the short film “Teresa, Station B” tells the story of a carer who has to leave her children alone at home. These stories reveal how loneliness can have a lasting impact on quality of life and well-being. These insights are consistent with the results of a survey in spring 2021 that found that over 22% of people aged 75 and over are often or occasionally lonely.

The film days not only offer entertaining insights, but also bring to light pressing social issues that often do not receive enough attention in everyday life. This makes it clear: there is a need for action. Together we should work to raise awareness of loneliness in old age and find solutions. The film festival could be a first step in initiating these important conversations and opening people's eyes to an issue that affects many.

Overall, the Nordic Film Days invite you to make the often hidden challenges in care and health visible. The contrast to the romanticized depiction in the “Black Forest Clinic” is particularly striking, and the films present challenge us to think critically about our social views.