Things are going wrong in home care. Caregiving relatives complain about a lack of support, many care insurance benefits are not used because there are no offers. In a current working paper on sustainable care for the elderly, scientists demand that politicians must intervene more. The state is responsible for protecting people in need of care and must also ensure that caring relatives are not overburdened, says Bernhard Emunds, one of the co-authors. In an interview, the professor of Christian social ethics and social philosophy explains what needs to change.
Riffreporter.de: Isn’t it a private matter if you look after a relative? What does the state have to do with it?
Bernhard Emunds: The state has a responsibility to protect people in need of care. It derives from the requirement of the welfare state. Since those in need of care are not physically or mentally able to fully take care of themselves, the state has a guarantor position. He must prevent and counteract any impairment of their fundamental rights. My co-authors and I are of the opinion that the state also has a responsibility for caregivers and must protect them from being overburdened. On the one hand, because overburdening can endanger the person in need of care, for example in the form of neglect or violence. On the other hand, because carers have a right to a self-determined life. At the moment we see that the well-being of those in need of care and the caregivers is at risk because there is a lack of support services. Many caregivers are completely overwhelmed, they become ill or are socially isolated.
We think that people with low wages should not get less for care than high earners
(Bernhard Emunds, Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Social Philosophy)
This has been complained about for years. What needs to change?
Take care insurance. So far, it has been tailored entirely to those in need of care. An example: Even the care allowance, which is actually intended for caring relatives, is paid out to those in need of care. If a nursing service comes to support you, the nursing allowance is reduced. We consider this to be highly problematic, because some caring relatives are dependent on the income. There is therefore an incentive to forego professional support. However, this is an important relief and helps the relatives to provide good care.