Care in a crisis: Hard but fair discussion about aging with dignity!

Care in a crisis: Hard but fair discussion about aging with dignity!

On Monday, November 3rd, the ARD talk show “Hard but Fair” will be about a topic that affects us all: “Emergency care: Who ensures aging with dignity?” From 9 p.m., viewers can watch live on the first as various experts and those affected comment on the pressing questions surrounding the care and support of older people and, above all, dementia patients. The demographic development in Germany cannot be overlooked - more and more people need support in old age.

According to current statistics, there are now around 5.69 million people living in Germany who are considered in need of care. This number has increased dramatically in recent years. While the number of people in need of care was 2.02 million in 1999, today there are almost three times as many. What is particularly alarming is that at least 1.8 million of them are living with a diagnosis of dementia, which makes the discussion about care and care even more urgent. According to statistics, over 80 percent of those in need of care are cared for at home by relatives, while only 14 percent are admitted to nursing homes. A circumstance that enormously increases the burden on families.

Urgent need for reform

The guests on today's show bring different perspectives to the discussion. Karl-Josef Laumann, the Minister for Labor, Health and Social Affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia, will speak about the challenges in the care system. The actress and writer Andrea Sawatzki, who cared for her father, who suffered from dementia, will also be heard. “Personal experience often poses the biggest questions about what we as a society have to overcome together,” she says.

The documentary about dementia, presented by Eckart von Hirschhausen, doctor and TV presenter, will also be part of the discussion. Rainer Heydenreich, who has been living with Alzheimer's for four years, will be there to share his very personal experiences. Stella Merendino, member of the Bundestag from Die Linke and a nurse, also brings her perspective as a specialist and as a relative to the group. Bernd Meurer, President of the Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services, will report on necessary reforms in the system and support for caring relatives. There is much to discuss as the need for change in the care system has become abundantly clear.

Audience participation and fact checking

The show offers viewers the opportunity to actively participate in the discussion via social media and the viewer forum. In this way, the topics can be examined not only from the perspective of the experts, but also from the perspective of those who are directly affected. A fact check on disputed statements will be available Tuesday afternoon after the broadcast. Viewers also have the opportunity to access the content of the program via the public broadcaster's media library and to delve deeper into the topics covered.

According to the latest forecasts, the trend towards an increase in the need for care will continue in the coming years. Given these challenges, it is essential that concrete measures are implemented to support the care system to ensure dignified care for all.

For all those who are already thinking about dealing with the need for care or are affected by this situation, “Hard but Fair” offers valuable insights and the opportunity to help shape the dialogue on important social issues this evening.