Out of time: Elderly care in Germany | DW English

Summary

Rosa Lopez, a dedicated nurse in Berlin, Germany, grapples with the daily challenges of an understaffed healthcare system, where 36,000 care worker positions remain unfilled. With a growing elderly population and limited time, Rosa provides care for up to 30 patients daily, often facing the harsh realities of insufficient healthcare resources. Despite the pressures and the brevity of her visits, she strives to offer not only medical assistance but also the human connection that her patients crave. The script highlights the struggles and dedication of home healthcare workers and the urgent need for systemic improvements in elderly care.

Takeaways

• 👩‍⚕️ Rosa Lopez is a dedicated nurse in Berlin who has been caring for the elderly for 20 years.
• 🏠 Rosa is originally from Spain and finds great satisfaction in her job despite its challenges.
• 🔢 There is a significant shortage of care workers in Germany, with 36,000 positions unfilled, affecting the quality of care.
• 🏥 Rosa works for Janka, one of Berlin's oldest private home health care services, which handles a high volume of patients.
• 👵 Rosa's first patient, a 94-year-old woman, relies on her visits to manage her health and maintain her independence.
• 🕒 Time constraints are a major issue; Rosa can only bill for a 20-minute visit, which is often not enough.
• 💼 The healthcare system is strained, with Rosa feeling the pressure of an overburdened system and personnel shortage.
• 💰 Care work is poorly paid and lacks recognition, which contributes to the difficulty in finding new workers.
• 👴 Rosa also helps elderly patients like Automata Sizz, who appreciates her assistance with daily tasks.
• 📝 Documentation is an essential part of Rosa's job, but it takes time away from patient care.
• 🚗 Rosa often has to double-park due to a lack of parking spaces, adding to her stress and time constraints.
• 👵‍👦 Krista Koehler, a former caregiver herself, now relies on Rosa for support and appreciates the time they spend together.
• 🏠 Home care allows 700,000 elderly people in Germany to stay in their homes, but the system is under pressure.
• 🤔 Rosa is skeptical about the government's promises to improve nursing care and create new jobs, citing the time it takes to train new workers.
• 👭 Rosa cares for sisters Gizella and Maria, who have moved in together to support each other in their old age.
• 🕒 Despite being behind schedule, Rosa continues to provide compassionate care to her patients, going above and beyond her duties.

Q & A

What is Rosa Lopez's profession and how long has she been working in it?

Rosa Lopez is a nurse in Berlin, and she has been helping older people for 20 years.

What is the main challenge Rosa faces in her job?

Rosa faces the challenge of an increasing personnel shortage, with 36,000 positions for care workers remaining unfilled in Germany, which makes her job increasingly difficult.

How many patients does Rosa typically care for in a day?

Rosa Lopez, as a trained nurse, cares for as many as 30 patients a day.

What is the significance of the house keys that the office has for each patient?

The office has a house key for each patient because many of them can no longer open their own entrance doors due to their age and physical conditions.

Why does Rosa's first patient of the day, Wu, feel that she needs to stay in her own home?

Wu, who is 94 years old and lives alone, wants to keep living in her own home because she enjoys making her own food and values her independence, despite her pain and lack of medication.

What is the impact of the healthcare system being overburdened on Rosa's work?

The overburdened healthcare system puts pressure on personnel like Rosa, making her work more stressful and challenging as she has to manage her time and resources with increasing efficiency.

Why is the job of a care worker poorly paid and lacks recognition?

The script suggests that the job is poorly paid and lacks recognition possibly due to societal undervaluation of caregiving work and the tough nature of the career.

What does Rosa suggest to politicians who promise to improve nursing care?

Rosa suggests that politicians should experience her job for a month to truly understand the challenges and realities of nursing care work.

How does Rosa manage to provide care with dignity to her patients despite the time constraints?

Rosa goes beyond the minimum required time for visits, listens to her patients, and tries to balance their needs with the realities of her schedule, even working overtime when necessary.

What is the situation with Rosa's patient, Krista Koehler, and how does Rosa assist her?

Krista Koehler suffers from severe bouts of dizziness and has many questions about her healthcare services. Rosa provides her with medication, answers her questions, and offers emotional support by engaging in conversation and looking at family photos.

How does Rosa feel about the new government's announcement to create new jobs for care workers?

Rosa is skeptical about the government's promise, stating that it will take years to train new workers and that finding people who want to be trained is already a challenge.