Photo: C. Fischer

The corona crisis is spreading in Germany. What does the current situation mean for people who need help and nursing care? It is already clear that the supply situation is worsening – not only in inpatient facilities, which suddenly have to create more capacity, but also in the mobile outpatient sector. This is where a major part of the care is provided to family members who have often reached an advanced age themselves, who suffer from pre-existing conditions and therefore also belong to the high-risk group. Only around a quarter of the three million people who are cared for in their own homes receive regular support from a mobile outpatient service. In addition, there are around six million people who are not yet at an official nursing care level but still require help in their everyday lives.

“In view of the development expected as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a division of labour between specialists and volunteers appears not only sensible but also absolutely necessary. Overburdened hospitals, for example, now discharge patients earlier in order to free up resources quicker for even more urgent cases”, explains SAGST project manager Christian Wüst. “Against this background, we as a foundation support the nationwide initiative of «deinNachbar e. V.», which in the corona era relies even more than ever on placing volunteers and networking them effectively with family members as well as mobile outpatient services.”

With a pilot project in Munich since 2015, the association has been providing routine and practical assistance to older people who require help, so they can still remain in their familiar surroundings at home despite the care they need. Attending family members are given advice and relief, while motivated assistant staff are trained and placed as required. In addition to the high level of professional skill and experience of all those involved, sophisticated digitalised techniques ensure that internal procedures run as smoothly as possible. Using specifically developed software, the system filters for suitable deployment options for volunteers, which only include activities that match their preferred geographical area, times available and their interests and qualifications. The helpers receive requests via an app and are able to accept or reject them digitally or track searches on a map themselves. This means the help required will arrive just where it is needed within the shortest possible time.

Even before the crisis, there was an urgent need to provide support to mobile care services by boosting the volunteer component. In order to be able to spread the load of the supply shortage in the current exceptional situation as well as on the shoulders of many capable laypeople subsequently, a team is currently being formed, which offers local authorities and other social organisations free access and training to them as well as bringing together those needing help with the appropriate volunteers. Training for day-care workers are created in a digitalised format and provided via video/e-learning in order to prepare as many volunteers as possible for their tasks and to guarantee the quality standard of «deinNachbar e. V.».