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Doku: Pflegenotstand in Deutschland | Rettung durch ausländische Fachkräfte — Transcript

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0:04Germany is aging. More and more people
0:06need care. But there is a massive
0:09shortage of staff.
0:11We won't be able to maintain care
0:13security if we don't get support from
0:14abroad.
0:15But are skilled workers from abroad
0:17really the solution? How are caregivers
0:20from Southern Europe or Asia received
0:22by German seniors? It is not easy to
0:26have so many foreigners here in the
0:29building.
0:31Benedetta from Italy is also leaving
0:33her home. The nurse from the Abruzzo
0:35region wants to become a geriatric
0:36nurse in Bavaria.
0:39Good morning. How are you doing?
0:46Everything okay?
0:49Will she manage the difficult
0:50transition to Germany? How young people
0:53from abroad are supposed to save our
0:55care system. The Bad Segeberg district
0:58in Schleswig-Holstein. In the middle of
1:01an idyllic landscape stands the Haus
1:03Diana nursing home. For decades, the
1:07facility was considered a top address
1:08for seniors in need of care in the
1:10entire region. The building has been
1:13empty since June. 30 residents had to
1:16find a new place to live. Many tears
1:20were shed, not only by the residents,
1:22but also by the director and operator
1:25of the house, Petra Sangermann.
1:29An era has naturally come to an end. It
1:31was, of course, a part of my life. It
1:33was my livelihood. It was everything,
1:36actually. I’ve never known it any
1:38other way. I was practically born into
1:41it. We had our 50th anniversary in '22
1:43and, um, I have been part of the
1:45business for just as long.
1:48The facility always enjoyed a good
1:50reputation. The beds in the home were
1:51in high demand. Why did the house have
1:55to close? Film footage from spring 2018
1:58documents everyday life at Haus Diana.
2:01What the seniors didn't know back then.
2:05Home director Petra Sangermann is
2:07lacking staff. The 57-year-old has been
2:10desperately searching for nursing staff
2:12for months, through job ads and job
2:14platforms. Her employees urgently need
2:18relief and the laws are strict. But
2:21where can you find them if the labor
2:22market has nothing to offer?
2:26The response was almost zero. Nothing,
2:29absolutely nothing. And you know, when
2:31you consider that I only have half the
2:33skilled staff I should have, or a
2:35little more—in any case, three
2:36full-time positions—can you somehow
2:38compensate for that long-term?
2:41In June, the bitter consequence. Haus
2:44Diana must close forever. The shock
2:47runs deep for the residents. The
2:49elderly Edith Michelsen is also losing
2:51her home and must find a new place to
2:54stay.
2:56So many tears have already been shed
2:58here. We are all leaving here very sad.
3:02It's just the way it is. I'm starting
3:03again already. I'm not that kind of
3:05person, but unfortunately, it is the
3:07case. It has given me so many sleepless
3:10nights, you can't imagine. So I
3:12pondered and thought a lot. What can I
3:16do? What happens next? How can I
3:17somehow turn things around here? But
3:20yes, ultimately I had to realize, for
3:22myself as well, that it just doesn't
3:25work. It simply doesn't work, it's not
3:28getting any better, and this shortage
3:30of skilled workers remains and will
3:32likely only get worse.
3:33Already today, around 2.9 million
3:35Germans are in need of care. By 2030,
3:38that number will rise to 3.5 million.
3:41But who will take care of them? A
3:43solution could come from beautiful
3:45Italy. Ripa Teatina, a mountain village
3:48in the province of Chieti in the
3:50Abruzzo region. Benedetta Salvatore
3:53still lives here, but she is on the
3:55verge of emigrating to Germany.
4:00I am leaving because I am keen to have
4:02an experience outside of Italy. I don't
4:05say "abroad" because we are neighbors,
4:07and above all, we are in the European
4:09Union. The 23-year-old nurse didn't
4:13hesitate when the offer came for a
4:15permanent position as a geriatric nurse
4:17in Bavaria. Because Italy has more
4:21nursing staff than are needed. The
4:23younger generation has a hard time
4:24there. When thinking of Germany,
4:26however, one small worry plagues
4:28Benedetta.
4:30I am afraid of freezing because I get
4:32cold quite quickly.
4:35The stethoscope has to come along, too.
4:37Benedetta gained quite a bit of
4:39experience in geriatric care during her
4:41three-year studies. She is looking
4:43forward to what is coming. Only her
4:46German language skills are still a bit
4:48sparse.
4:49I hope I can manage to say: good day,
4:52how's it going, how are you today? Try
4:54it, then. Good morning. How are you?
5:06Everything okay. Quest.
5:09That's it. Nothing more.
5:12Benedetta has been taking German
5:14lessons for four months. The Italian
5:16will still have to cram a lot to master
5:18the language well. 10 kilometers from
5:21her hometown lies the renowned
5:24University of Pescara. This is where
5:27Benedetta studied. In Italy, many young
5:30people train in nursing. The job is
5:32well-regarded. The problem there is
5:35that there are many nurses, but hardly
5:36any permanent positions. Wages are low
5:39compared to Germany. Daniela Daniele
5:42was Benedetta's favorite lecturer. Now
5:45it is time for the farewell.
5:49Benedetta, it is so nice to see you
5:52again.
5:53Hello my dear, how lovely. It really is
5:56a pleasure to see you.
5:58Thank you, me too. I heard that you are
6:01going to Germany.
6:02Yes, very soon.
6:04I am really very happy for you. And
6:05your parents?
6:06Yes, they are happy too. They are a bit
6:09sad, but they accept it.
6:10It will be a great experience. I am
6:12happy for you, my beautiful one, my
6:13star. And here is Benedetta's future
6:17employer, the Bavarian Red Cross in
6:19Munich. It already employs caregivers
6:22from 60 nations in its residential and
6:24nursing homes for seniors. Including
6:26Lee from Vietnam. The 29-year-old is on
6:28the morning shift today at the
6:30Kieferngarten home.
6:33With her countryman, she picks up a
6:35colleague at the staff residence.
6:38Morning.
6:39Morning.
6:40It's 6 o'clock in the morning. Okay,
6:43okay, have to get going.
6:45See you this afternoon. Yes, okay. Have
6:48fun.
6:50The Asian women quickly change into
6:52their uniforms and are ready for the
6:54day on the ward. First up is the
6:57handover from the night shift.
7:00Good morning.
7:04And how was the night?
7:06Quiet, quiet,
7:07quiet. That's good.
7:09She walked around a bit like usual.
7:11Went to the toilet. He had heartburn.
7:16We'll have to see how he's doing this
7:18morning. He he got his medication. He
7:21was fine afterward. Yes, he he also
7:23slept again. I checked on him earlier,
7:25he's sleeping. So everything is fine.
7:27Yes. And please check how he's doing
7:29today. She vomited, see if she needs a
7:31bit more help than usual. Otherwise, it
7:34was a quiet night. Phuong's day is
7:37tightly scheduled. The first resident
7:39is already waiting. Good morning, Ms.
7:41Wegan. Good
7:42morning.
7:43So, this is on. Good morning.
7:47Good morning.
7:48How are you, Ms. Walgand?
7:50Thanks. Good.
7:51Good.
7:52Yes.
7:52Mhm. Waited a little while, didn't you?
7:56No.
7:56No, that's good.
7:59And did you sleep well too?
8:01Yes,
8:01that's good. God, have I
8:05I'll help you finish getting dressed on
8:07your upper body.
8:09Yes. And then we can go to breakfast.
8:12And then we can go to breakfast. Yes.
8:15Would you like to continue dressing?
8:18In Vietnam, respect for older
8:20generations is especially important.
8:23Her gentle manner is well-received by
8:25the 90-year-old. I always try to treat
8:29my residents, my old folks, as well as
8:33possible and communicate with them like
8:37I do with my grandma.
8:41I once had one who was so volatile, she
8:44threw me onto the bed because I wasn't
8:47fast enough, you know?
8:50But they think you're very nice.
8:52Me?
8:52Yes.
8:53And me?
8:53Yes, she's a sweetheart. Thanks. She's
8:58a real gem.
8:59Yes, I always try to give something
9:03good.
9:03Yes,
9:04always.
9:04You can tell that just by looking at
9:06her.
9:06Thanks.
9:08Working in a nursing home. For many
9:11Germans, that's unimaginable. Currently
9:13, a position in elderly care remains
9:16vacant for an average of 175 days,
9:18longer than in almost any other
9:20profession. And the number of those who
9:23need care as they age is rising
9:25dramatically. By 2030, there are
9:27expected to be 3.5 million people,
9:29about one and a half million more than
9:32today. Without helpers like Phuong, the
9:35emergency would be even worse. Good
9:37morning.
9:39The 26-year-old wants to bring a little
9:42bit of sunshine into the residents '
9:44lives every day. She even treats severe
9:48care cases with the politeness and
9:51respect she was taught from an early
9:53age in her culture in Vietnam. When I
10:01was a child, I always learned that, uh,
10:05you have to have respect for older
10:08people.
10:10Lee comes to help out. Together, they
10:13want to wash the resident in bed and
10:15put fresh clothes on her. In Vietnam,
10:18relatives take care of elderly and
10:20frail family members. There are
10:23practically no nursing homes there.
10:27Exactly. Is that
10:30good or warm enough?
10:34The woman cannot speak.
10:36Close your eyes a little, then. Yes.
10:38Communication only happens through eye
10:41contact.
10:43Very good. Does that feel good? Well,
10:48she w-she wanted to say yes.
10:53Fong and Lee came to Munich from
10:55Vietnam three years ago. Back then,
10:57with almost no German skills, a
10:59Vietnamese nursing diploma in their
11:01luggage, and a lot of curiosity. Now,
11:04both professionals manage entire wards.
11:07The Bavarian Red Cross is desperately
11:09looking for exactly this kind of
11:10potential. We simply have too few, um,
11:14too few people here in Germany who want
11:17to do this job. There will perhaps be
11:20even more from Asia. We are now working
11:22on the new project with Italy. There is
11:24good training available, but there are
11:26no jobs, and we have the jobs.
11:29Back in Chieti in the Abruzzo region,
11:31at the university, project coordinator
11:33Corin Del Re and her husband, Professor
11:35Michael Demiter Ikonomu, are searching
11:37on behalf of the Social Service Society
11:40(SSG) of the Bavarian Red Cross for
11:41nurses willing to work in retirement
11:43homes in Bavaria. Not easy. The SSG
11:49approached us because they simply need
11:52specialists everywhere, especially for
11:55their senior care homes, and we have
11:57many well-trained young people here who
12:00cannot all find placements. And the
12:04idea was then: how do we prepare these
12:08young people so they can integrate
12:10actively and professionally into the
12:14job in Bavaria? In the beginning, I
12:17must say, I thought it must be very
12:21simple, it will go quickly. In Italy,
12:26we need work, the young people need
12:28work, we are giving them this
12:30opportunity, but it was really hard to
12:32believe in this project because,
12:35perhaps in Italy, we always have a bit
12:37of a negative idea. What comes next?
12:42What are these gifts, what is in this
12:44gift? Benedetta Salvatore is one of a
12:49group of seven nurses who have accepted
12:51the job offer and are now emigrating.
12:54She is heading tomorrow to a home in
12:56the Bavarian town of Altomünster.
13:00Are you looking forward to leaving?
13:01Yes, I am really very excited.
13:03A bit nervous.
13:05Yes,
13:07it will, it will work out.
13:09It will work.
13:10It will go well.
13:11Yes. Yes. Here are the two books.
13:13Mhm. Thank you.
13:15For the B2 course.
13:17B2.
13:18Mira Command. Important: read a lot, a
13:21lot. You also need to listen a lot.
13:24Okay.
13:25Speak a lot, also watch a lot of TV.
13:28Okay.
13:28Listen to the radio.
13:30Very important. Very nice.
13:32We'll do that.
13:34Well, all the best, good luck.
13:37And we'll see you in Altomünster.
13:40Ciao, Benedicte. Bye, Benedetta.
13:43I won't be here when you leave. Come
13:45here for a hug.
13:47Ciao.
13:49Books. Forget the books.
13:53She almost forgot the most important
13:55thing. Benedetta's thoughts are already
13:57revolving around her upcoming farewell
13:59to her family. In Ripatransone, her
14:02home village, mother Cinzia is
14:04preparing dinner. The high school
14:07teacher views her daughter's plans with
14:09mixed feelings. The whole family wants
14:12to sit down together tonight. I admire
14:15her decision. I would never have been
14:18able to take such a step at that age.
14:21She is so brave. I'm coming.
14:28Mother Cinzia needs a bit more ham for
14:30the farewell dinner. Benedetta should
14:33go and get some quickly. In the future,
14:35one of her four brothers will have to
14:37do the shopping.
14:40What will you miss most when Benedetta
14:42is no longer here?
14:46Benedetta, I don't know, everything
14:50actually. I mean, I'm about to cry. I
14:59couldn't name one specific thing. But
15:02besides me, she is the only woman in
15:04this house. Now I will be alone.
15:08For one last time, Benedetta strolls
15:10across the piazza of Ripatransone.
15:15Hello, good evening. Please. Thank you.
15:20In the town of 4,000, word has long
15:22spread that she is moving away.
15:25You're going to Germany for work?
15:27Yes.
15:30What do your parents say about it?
15:32Well, what can they say?
15:34And
15:34nothing.
15:35Are they sad?
15:36Yes, a little bit. An hour later in the
15:42Salvatore apartment, the family of
15:44seven has gathered to toast to
15:46Benedetta's future in Germany.
15:50To Benedetta, to a good life,
15:55and to us too.
15:57You can see the pain of separation in
15:59her parents. Melancholy is in the air.
16:01Benedetta's older brother Davide
16:02provides a distraction. Where will you
16:07live? Are you sharing a house with
16:09colleagues?
16:12I'll be sharing an apartment with a few
16:13of the people who are coming with me.
16:16In a few months, we want to move closer
16:19to our jobs. But apartments are quite
16:22expensive. So we have to see what we
16:24can find. Benedetta has lived at home
16:29until now. Her relationship with her
16:31brothers is close. What will you miss
16:33about your brothers? Everything. I will
16:36miss them every day. They have been
16:39with me for 23 years now. I will miss
16:43everything about them.
16:46Back in Munich. Benedetta will move
16:49into an apartment here on the grounds
16:51of the Kieferngarten retirement complex
16:52, where geriatric nurse Le works.
16:57How are you doing?
16:58I'm doing well.
16:59Good.
17:00When I see you, I’m always doing well
17:02.
17:02That makes me happy. Elena Zettele was
17:05always proud of her independence. But
17:08since she’s been in a wheelchair, she
17:10needs help around the clock.
17:13Good. Fresh
17:14fresh laundry.
17:15Okay.
17:16Oh, I admire you. We are so small and
17:21so petite and have to do such heavy
17:23work.
17:24I like that.
17:26Dealing with us when we are so heavy
17:28and thick. Must
17:30don’t you worry. We have aids, after
17:33all. Ms. Zettele has led an eventful
17:37life. She knows what homesickness feels
17:40like. The competition
17:43I also admire you so much because you
17:46are here alone, aren’t you? And so
17:48far from home. They have to put up with
17:52so much, the homesickness and taking
17:55care of us. Le also needs a great deal
18:00of sensitivity for her work. After
18:03having her hair brushed, the 92-
18:05year-old resident can now look at
18:06herself in the mirror. The joy is
18:08visible on her face. It’s moments
18:11like these that keep Le motivated to do
18:13her job in a foreign country. But
18:16everyday life is often exhausting. The
18:19workload is intense, the time pressure
18:20is high, and the responsibility for
18:22those in need of care is enormous. Is
18:25this fairly compensated? Well, I don't
18:30think the wage we get is enough because
18:33we constantly have to work so much
18:36overtime. We are so physically and
18:41mentally burdened, so often, that we
18:45are all on the wards because of illness
18:48, because of colleagues' illness, for
18:51nearly 30 residents, but for that, we
18:54need more support from other caregivers
18:57, staff.
19:00Le’s colleague, Fen, is leading the
19:02morning shift today. Her list of tasks
19:04is long. Preparing medication, doing
19:07documentation on the PC, and organizing
19:10meetings with relatives. There is often
19:13not enough time for many things.
19:16The work, uh, is really so exhausting.
19:21I find it a shame that here in Germany
19:24there isn't real appreciation for our
19:28profession. That, uh, that I find a
19:31shame.
19:34Geriatric nurse Vanam Nuyen is on his
19:36way to the senior home's dining hall.
19:40Every day, he picks up a 97-year-old
19:42resident here after lunch.
19:46Ms. Ströte.
19:47Yes.
19:48Did you eat well?
19:49Yes, indeed. Did you enjoy your lunch?
19:53Super.
19:54Good, we're going back to your room,
19:56right?
19:57Yes, please.
19:58Good.
20:00Maria von Schröter has lived in the
20:02complex for 6 years and has a small
20:04apartment.
20:07Yes, indeed.
20:10So,
20:11caregivers from many nations work at
20:13Kieferngarten. For the residents, the
20:16language is often a problem. I will
20:18bring you to the dining room again
20:20tomorrow. Yes.
20:21Yes, because you want to. Yes.
20:23Yes. All right, then
20:25yes.
20:25I wish you a good afternoon. Yes, and
20:28we will see each other again tomorrow.
20:29Yes.
20:30Yes. All the best.
20:31Good. Ciao.
20:34It is not easy having so many
20:36foreigners here in the house, but when
20:40they all speak German as well as he
20:43does, it is much easier.
20:48Good day, Mrs. Jerod.
20:5188-year-old Henriette Girou is already
20:53waiting for her caregiver. You get eye
20:56drops every day. In the process, the
20:58two often have conversations.
21:00Thank you very much, that was it. Yes.
21:03Yes,
21:04she also values good German. about 3
21:07years ago. I already learned German in
21:11Vietnam uh and that takes uh that my
21:15German course took about 11 months and
21:19before I uh flew to Germany.
21:23Excuse me, in that moment, he had, in
21:27case you noticed, enough mistakes in
21:30what he said to you. If you hadn't been
21:37there, I would have either done this
21:40here
21:42or said back.
21:45And he had to repeat that. Sorry for
21:48interrupting.
21:50Those were the beginnings when he was
21:53here.
21:53Mhm. Back in Ripatransone in the
21:56Italian Abruzzo. Somber mood in the
22:01Salvatore house. After dinner, the time
22:04has come to say goodbye to Benedetta.
22:10The 23-year-old is now setting off for
22:12a new life in Germany. Her parents and
22:15brothers have gathered to say ciao. Mom
22:18Chinzia is very upset. The farewell is
22:21also hard on Dad Luciano. Ciao.
22:27Ciao.
22:28Tomaso, Stefano
22:32Davide
22:32C
22:34and Samuele are proud of their sister
22:37and admire her courage. Ciao.
22:46The bus takes her to Rome and from
22:48there by plane to Munich. Jinia hopes
22:52to see her daughter again at Christmas.
22:57A few hours later at Munich Airport,
23:00the plane from Rome lands. On board is
23:03Benedetta. Her employer, the social
23:08service company SSG, spares neither
23:10effort nor money to bring professionals
23:12from Italy. An employee has come
23:15specifically to the airport to welcome
23:17them. Rika Ertel checks if the flight
23:20is on time. A German teacher for the
23:23Italian caregivers is also expected.
23:28Hello, hello, hello. Good to see you.
23:34Hello.
23:35Everything good?
23:36Yes. Had a good trip.
23:38Yes. Very tired now or is it okay? Are
23:42you very tired? Very tired.
23:44A what?
23:46Okay, then let's just go. I parked
23:49right here.
23:50The managing director's assistant has a
23:52small surprise with her. I brought you
23:55something else. Yes, thanks. You're
23:58welcome. A little gift.
24:03The journey continues to the Red Cross
24:05staff dormitory in Munich. Although
24:08Benedetta will work near Dachau, she is
24:10being put up in the state capital for
24:12the first few weeks because she has to
24:14attend a language course here. Of all
24:16places, in expensive Munich.
24:19Especially in Munich, it is very
24:21difficult to find nursing staff, partly
24:23because there is so little living space
24:26, and because we often simply have to
24:28provide apartments for the caregivers
24:30who move here from other cities within
24:33Germany or from elsewhere.
24:37After 20 minutes, arriving at Building
24:39E. By the way, the Vietnamese geriatric
24:42nurses live here too. That's us.
24:48Welcome.
24:51Benedetta is already quite excited
24:53about her new place to stay. For her,
24:55it means living without her family for
24:57the first time, but still not entirely
24:59alone.
25:04Because Marie, Lisa, and Beatrice are
25:06already there. The nurses know each
25:08other from their studies in Italy. Now
25:10they will share an apartment. Everyone
25:13has their own room.
25:15So, your room. Yours.
25:22I hope you feel comfortable.
25:25Yes, I like it a lot. Very nice. Cozy.
25:30The day was long. Benedetta wants to
25:32unpack quickly. The Italian is a bit
25:35nervous about the first night. I think
25:41if I can get through this night, I'll
25:43manage everything else too. Suddenly,
25:46there is a knock at the door. It is Lee
25:49, Fong, and Nam. The three Vietnamese
25:51are happy about their new neighbor.
25:54I am F.
25:56Welcome to Germany.
25:58Thank you.
25:59Exactly.
26:00We live upstairs. I live on the first
26:03floor. Exactly. And if you need
26:05anything. Exactly. Need help. Thanks.
26:08Thank you very much.
26:10Thanks.
26:11Or if you also have questions, then
26:14just come by.
26:17Okay.
26:17See you soon. See you soon. Then
26:20and
26:20we'll see each other. G. Yes, thanks.
26:28As much as the spontaneous visit
26:30pleased Benedetta, now she just wants
26:32to go to bed, because tomorrow is her
26:34first day at work in a nursing home,
26:36and it's located 60 km outside of
26:38Munich. That means getting up early.
26:42Getting up early. Nam has gotten used
26:45to that by now. When he came to Munich
26:48three years ago, he barely spoke German
26:50. In the meantime, he has mastered the
26:52language almost perfectly. The
26:54Vietnamese man works in the assisted
26:55living section of the senior home. The
26:58staff office is connected to all
26:59residential units via an intercom
27:01system. Nam sees who is calling.
27:05Hello, Mr. Juritko.
27:06Yes, Juritko Manfeld here.
27:08Yes, can I help you with something? Yes
27:11, I request it, I have a swelling on my
27:14left ankle, it's been three days now
27:17and I urgently need medicine to treat
27:20it.
27:21With pleasure. I'm coming to you right
27:23away. Yes, wait a moment. Yes,
27:26okay.
27:26Good. See you in a bit.
27:29The nurse goes straight upstairs to the
27:31resident.
27:36Good day, Mr. Jitko.
27:38Good day. May I come in?
27:42Namen greets the gentleman in Bavarian.
27:44So, greetings. So, I am coming to you
27:49because of your pain. Yes, tell me
27:52where exactly you have pain.
27:54Yes, I have the pain here in my left
27:57ankle.
27:57Mhm.
27:58And it's been two days now.
28:00Mhm.
28:00And I don't know, did I walk too much?
28:03Yes. Uh, it's likely about the uh ankle
28:06joint and so on.
28:08That's right. Exactly. I have a scale
28:10with me. It's about assessing the pain.
28:14Exactly. For example, here number zero,
28:17that means no pain.
28:19Number 10 is the strongest pain. With
28:24which number can you describe your pain
28:26situation? Number 7.
28:28Yes,
28:29that is quite a strong pain, isn't it?
28:35Manfred Jitko used to be a manager at a
28:36large company. He likes that the staff
28:39is multicultural.
28:41You have to be open to the world, and
28:43when such people keep coming, they come
28:45here from all over the world. So, very
28:47nice people throughout. I have to
28:49acknowledge him too. A very nice man.
28:52I am giving you medication for pain now
28:56,
28:57and at the same time I will inform your
28:59family doctor.
29:00Good,
29:00here you go. Okay, good. Yes,
29:04drink it down now.
29:05Yes, good. Now you should rest a bit,
29:09okay? I'll come back to you in half an
29:12hour. Yes, please.
29:14Okay, wonderful.
29:15See you later, okay?
29:16Thank you.
29:17Goodbye.
29:18Thank you. See you later.
29:20Caregivers like them work hard and get
29:22little for it. Yet what they provide is
29:24becoming increasingly important.
29:27Well, I can sum it up. I think the pay
29:30is not right for the caregivers. The
29:33caregivers do more uh than they
29:35actually have to, and they get way too
29:38little money for it, because this work
29:40is so important for us older people uh
29:42to get back on our feet again. And I'm
29:45not writing myself off at 80 either,
29:48you know? I want to, I want to reach at
29:51least 100.
29:54In the nursing home with the foreign
29:56caregivers, the nearly hundred-year-old
29:58Elonore Moll is being cared for by Lie
30:00today. The Vietnamese woman wants to
30:02remove a few facial hairs for her. A
30:04colleague observes the situation. Which
30:07device is suitable for that? That one
30:10was always great.
30:12Yes, but I find that one so strong.
30:15Take a look.
30:18Yes, because I had a strong beard and
30:21my son bought that for me. No,
30:27that
30:28that is the
30:31Oh, it cuts wonderfully.
30:34But I can't get along with that one.
30:37Why not?
30:38I find it is so strong. Yes, that's,
30:43that's, yes,
30:45I don't want them to get hurt.
30:49Compassion and patience when dealing
30:51with elderly people are among the most
30:53important skills for a geriatric nurse.
30:57Practice manager Barbara Gegeres is
30:58alarmed by the declining number of
31:00applicants for training in geriatric
31:02care. Of course, much more must be done
31:07so that young people return to these
31:09professions and do this work. A lot can
31:11still be changed regarding working
31:13hours to make them more attractive for
31:15families. Financial resources can be
31:19used to support the work so that a
31:21father in the profession can also
31:24support his family. We also have to
31:27implement these things as quickly as
31:28possible.
31:30Finally, the workday is over for the
31:32Vietnamese geriatric nurses who have
31:33been on their feet since early this
31:35morning. They are busy cooking in the
31:37staff residence. Almost always dishes
31:40from back home.
31:41A little longer, a little longer, maybe
31:44a little longer. They are making summer
31:49rolls, a typical recipe from Vietnam.
31:53Hurry, I'm already hungry.
31:57The work as a geriatric nurse is
31:59exhausting.
32:01Are you homesick? Yes, of course,
32:04because I am alone here. I have no one
32:07here, so to speak, because my whole
32:10family stays in Vietnam.
32:14Perhaps the food eases the longing for
32:16Vietnam a little. It is very easy to
32:21cook. Yes. Various salads and then
32:26fried eggs with shrimp and, uh, pork,
32:32right? Rice noodles. But that is
32:36typically fish sauce as well. Yes, that
32:40that is also soy, right?
32:41That is soy and peanuts. Peanut, so
32:46butter, peanut, and sauce, sauce, so
32:49beans, and then you make the sauce.
32:53Especially then you feel right at home
32:54again, don't you? Yes, so I—excuse me
32:57, but I can't wait anymore,
33:00because for me it is so important to be
33:03together while eating. Just like in the
33:08family, always eating at home with my
33:11family too.
33:1329-year-old Lee comes from a small town
33:15in southern Vietnam. She misses her
33:18family too, but doesn't want to go back
33:20there.
33:21I am staying here. So for my better
33:24future. Maybe, uh, also get married and
33:29see my children here see. Yes,
33:35even though the three feel very
33:37comfortable in Bavaria now, pork
33:39knuckle or dumplings will probably
33:41never be on their menu. And how are the
33:44Italian nursing staff doing? The next
33:48stop is Altomünster, 60 km northwest
33:51of Munich. The small community is easy
33:54to reach from the state capital by
33:56S-Bahn. Astrid Ziller is already
33:59standing at the train station. The
34:01director of the senior care home is
34:03waiting anxiously for her three new
34:05employees from Italy. It is not nice
34:09weather for a welcome. Morning.
34:15Welcome to Altomünster.
34:19Let's go. We have The good thing is,
34:21it’s not far. I would have wished for
34:24better weather for them.
34:27On the way to the nursing home, there
34:29are already the first communication
34:31problems.
34:33Please. Well,
34:37you have to speak German with me.
34:41Even though the three women know very
34:43little German, Astrid Ziller is happy
34:45for every helping hand. The nurses from
34:50Southern Europe will be a great support
34:52for the care team at the Upper Bavarian
34:54retirement home. They are welcomed
34:58there accordingly warmly.
35:06Wow.
35:07A Bavarian breakfast is meant to make
35:09starting work easier. Recruiter Markus
35:11Schlicht is also there. He helped set
35:14up this project with the Italian
35:16nursing staff. Nursing manager
35:18Stephanie Botek will show the three
35:20around shortly. Are you surprised?
35:24Benedetta hadn't expected such a
35:26reception.
35:29I find it a very nice gesture that we
35:31are being welcomed so warmly. I think
35:35that we will feel comfortable here. The
35:39atmosphere is good. Astrid Ziller is
35:43pleased that the Italians want to work
35:45in her retirement home. They could have
35:48chosen a different location in Bavaria.
35:51I heard from you that all three of you
35:54wanted to come to Altomünster.
35:56Why? M because um Altus is uh uh a not
36:14a city is
36:16small small. We think, that a small
36:26city uh is better for spea and uh
36:34German learn.
36:37Yes. Markus Schlicht has recruited more
36:42than 70 nursing professionals from all
36:44over the world in the last two years.
36:46In the beginning, almost everyone had
36:48language problems. He wants to
36:50encourage the women.
36:52You will learn quickly. You don't need
36:54to be afraid of German. It is very
36:56difficult at the beginning. You will
36:57work a little bit here now, then you
36:59will take your German course
37:01and then we'll see. And in four weeks
37:03the world will look very different. In
37:05Italy, the young nurses would have a
37:07hard time on the job market. In Germany
37:09, people are literally fighting for
37:11them. Marielisa Adario finds this
37:13almost uncomfortable. I am impressed by
37:19how courteous the people are that we
37:20have met so far. Everyone is so patient
37:24with us, even though we speak so little
37:27and such poor German. No one wants to
37:30embarrass us. It really moves me that
37:32we are experiencing so much patience
37:34and helpfulness. So far, the first day
37:41is running smoothly, but now it's
37:43getting serious. They are starting now
37:47with the clothing and keys,
37:49so that they can then begin. Please
37:51come in one by one.
37:52I wonder how the uniforms will go over
37:54with the Italians. The three nurses
37:57from the south are now, purely visually
37:59, becoming German geriatric nurses.
38:03So, we are done with the trying on.
38:07Hello,
38:07now they are already in unif. Work
38:09clothes, right? Hello
38:12Great.
38:13Yeah
38:15they look very good. Good. Um, does
38:18everything fit?
38:20Size?
38:21Yes.
38:21Yes.
38:21Length?
38:22Yes.
38:23And how does Benedetta like her new
38:26outfit?
38:28Yes, I like it. It’s cute. White and
38:31familiar? No, we wear white in Italy
38:34too. In Chieti, I wore white as well.
38:37So you like it? Yes, it's a bit more
38:40feminine. Next
38:42we’re taking a tour of living area 1
38:44in the nursing home. The colleagues are
38:47happy about the reinforcement from
38:48Italy. But how will the residents react
38:51? The facility has room for 90 people.
38:55Among them are many severe care cases.
38:57New faces are coming. May I interrupt
39:01you for a second? Hello,
39:02we have we have three ladies here from
39:08Italy. They’re joining us now.
39:10Beatrice, Marielisa, and Benedetta are
39:12introducing themselves to all the
39:14seniors.
39:17This lady is Italian. Someone who
39:19understands you?
39:21I am Italian too. Where are you from?
39:24From Rome. From Rome? I am from Abruzzo
39:27, from Chieti.
39:29I don’t know, I’m not familiar with
39:31that. No,
39:31no.
39:33About half of the residents suffer from
39:35dementia. Benedetta has experience with
39:38such patients.
39:41We had a lot of such patients in Chieti
39:43, both with age-related dementia and
39:45Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. These
39:49diseases lead to one becoming estranged
39:52from the reality they currently live in
39:54. During a tour through the retirement
39:59home in Alto Münster, Bavaria, the
40:00three nurses from Italy meet a resident
40:03in a single room on their first day of
40:05work. The Italians immediately notice
40:08how friendly everything looks.
40:10Benedetta takes the chance for a little
40:12chat.
40:14How many months? Uh
40:18I’ve been here for a year and a half
40:19now.
40:21Excuse me.
40:22I’ve been here for a year and a half
40:24now. Okay. Mhm. Are you woman? Woman
40:29Woman? If
40:31Are you happy? Yes. Yes, I like it here
40:35. I still do everything myself.
40:37Exactly. And that is what I tried to
40:40explain before, say qualita de vita.
40:45Qualita de vita means in German
40:48quality of life. Super. Very good.
40:52That’s how learning German is also
40:54fun. The first workday is over at 12:00
40:57noon. They’re taking the S-Bahn back
40:59to Munich shortly. And how did the
41:02three do with the nursing manager?
41:05Very likable. Young people who are keen
41:08to learn this profession, and that
41:10isn't always a given. That smile and
41:13that, well, that commitment, that she
41:14says they want to work here, is
41:16positive for us. I have a very, very
41:18good feeling.
41:19In the afternoon, the program features
41:21a German course. In four months, the
41:24Italians must pass a language exam. Two
41:28hours later at the Kieferngarten senior
41:30living home in Munich. Marielisa,
41:33Benedetta, and Beatrice arrive, feeling
41:36almost upbeat from their first day of
41:38work in Alto Münster. But now comes
41:40the exhausting part. Cramming German.
41:44All seven Italian nurses have gathered
41:46around a large conference table to
41:48study with teacher Flavia.
41:54Benedetta is asked to describe her day.
41:58Do you already know your task? Tasks?
42:03Mhm. Yes. Um, um, we have, uh, seen the
42:13staff, uh.
42:14Mhm. And we have met our colleagues.
42:23Good day, ladies. Hello.
42:25Hello.
42:26Hello.
42:26The surprise visitor is Christian
42:28Pietich, managing director of the
42:30social services company. As a
42:32co-initiator of the recruitment project
42:34in Italy, he wants to get an impression
42:36of the language course. Because German
42:39nursing homes lack caregivers, for
42:41their operators, such initiatives are
42:43now a matter of survival. The fact is
42:46that, if I look at how many ladies and
42:49gentlemen are retiring, uh, if I look
42:51at our average age, then in the long
42:53run we will not be able to manage
42:56without support from abroad, but we—
42:58well, we—will also not be able to
43:00maintain the security of supply if we
43:03don't get support from abroad. And
43:06unfortunately, the mills, the
43:07bureaucratic mills are very, very
43:09difficult, until someone is allowed to
43:11enter the country, until they receive
43:12recognition. So I do hope that
43:15policymakers will set a few more
43:18barriers to green.
43:20It seems there is a green light for
43:22Benedetta, at least. If everything goes
43:24according to plan for her, she will be
43:26a recognized nursing specialist in a
43:28few months, and all doors will be open
43:30to her. The young Italian woman has
43:32settled in well in her shared apartment
43:34. But she does miss her parents in the
43:36Abruzzo region a little.
43:39How are you doing?
43:41Good. I wanted to tell you how it went
43:45today. So, we looked at the facility.
43:53We took the tram there. We traveled for
43:56an hour and a half.
43:59Are you happy?
44:00Yes, very much. I am happy.
44:03Hopefully, it stays that way. Only one
44:04in three geriatric nurses in Germany is
44:06still doing the tough job after 10
44:08years. The consequences of the shortage
44:11of skilled workers in the care sector
44:13are being felt more and more elsewhere.
44:16In Seekamp, Holstein, where the Diana
44:18nursing home had to close in June due
44:21to staff shortages, former home manager
44:23Petra Sangermann wants to find out how
44:26her former residents are doing today.
44:31Most had to move to other homes. Four
44:34have since passed away. One senior in
44:37need of care was able to move in with
44:39her family. That is where we are
44:41heading now.
44:41This was certainly a drastic experience
44:44and for many almost traumatic, I would
44:47think, especially when it comes to
44:49dementia patients. That is, of course,
44:52a heavy thing, that it doesn't leave
44:54someone untouched is clear. You know
44:56that from yourself, too, when living
44:58conditions change so dramatically. it
45:00doesn't leave you completely unaffected
45:01either.
45:02The small town of Berlin in the
45:03municipality of Seedorf. Here, 91-
45:05year-old Elsbeth Schönau is now
45:08staying with her granddaughter. When
45:10she heard about the care home closing,
45:12she was horrified.
45:13I found out all around, oh God, the
45:15home is supposed to be closed. And then
45:17we were all packed together, you know?
45:20And then oh God, oh God, many were just
45:23torn apart and that's not nice at all,
45:25is it? Peter Sangermann and Elsbeth
45:28Schönau haven't seen each other since
45:30the home was shut down 5 months ago.
45:33Granddaughter Mandy Dolle is happy
45:35about the visit. The lady is here.
45:39Yes, good.
45:40Yes. Hello, Mrs. Schönau. Good day. Hi
45:44.
45:46It’s been a long time since we saw
45:47each other.
45:48No, it has.
45:49That’s so nice. How are you doing?
45:50Yes, thank you. Good. As you can see.
45:52Yes, I think that's great. The food and
45:54drink taste good. Oh,
45:55look, you have it nice here. That's
45:57just great. Ah, that’s so kind.
45:58Just like I had it in the home.
46:00Yes, everything is here too. Yes,
46:01exactly.
46:02We always got along well. Wonderful,
46:05all of us, right?
46:07But one person,
46:08they are still talking about it.
46:10Yes,
46:11when are we going home again? They
46:14don't like it in the home there. Yes, a
46:16pity.
46:17It was a nice home and we all got along
46:19well. I told you, we were like a family
46:21, weren't we? Now the 91-year-old lives
46:25back in the family circle. Shortly
46:27before the home closed, Mandy's husband
46:29passed away. Nevertheless, the 38-
46:32year-old didn't hesitate to take her
46:34grandma in and care for her.
46:39I only found out from you,
46:42then I read the letter. It was already
46:45clear to me, Grandma is coming here and
46:47that's it. No discussion. Dad looked at
46:50me, we look. I said, you don't need to
46:51look at all. She gets the playroom
46:52downstairs and that's it. I—
46:56then your bed was ordered, then the
46:58other thing was ordered and that was
46:59that. One day after the funeral, I
47:01started remodeling.
47:03Fate has brought grandma and
47:05granddaughter together across the
47:06generations. Petra Sangermann is
47:09relieved that the two get along so well
47:11.
47:12Yes, that was nice. Yes, I'm glad
47:13they're doing so well and that
47:14they’ve found such a good situation.
47:16Lovely. I wish you all the best and
47:18stay as lively and healthy as you are
47:20now, okay?
47:21Yes, we'll definitely see each other
47:23again. I'll come by again sometime.
47:25But how are the other seniors from the
47:28home doing? Petra Sangermann still has
47:30a few visits to make. For Elzbert
47:32Schönau, her granddaughter is a stroke
47:34of luck. Even though the lady is still
47:37spry for her advanced age, she needs
47:39some help with basic care.
47:41Not cold, not cold. Mandy Dolle has
47:47found a new purpose since the death of
47:48her husband. Especially now, caring for
47:51her grandmother gives her a new sense
47:53of meaning.
47:55You help people, and they actually give
47:57you so much in return. They are
47:58grateful for every little bit.
48:04And what will happen to the former
48:05nursing home in Seekamp? House Diana is
48:08now being renovated and converted into
48:10a vacation guesthouse. The nursing
48:16bathtub has served its time. Petra
48:19Sangermann takes one last walk through
48:22the empty rooms. Fifty years ago, her
48:24grandmother founded the care facility.
48:27Now this chapter is ending forever. How
48:30does she feel about that?
48:32Wistful. Melancholy, but I’m also
48:34looking forward to what comes next. So,
48:37one thing has unfortunately come to an
48:40end now. As they say, one door closes
48:42and the next one opens. There’s some
48:44truth to that, isn't there? Yeah.

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