Schwerin (dpa/mv) – Social Affairs Minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) has announced a “round table against loneliness” for older people in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. “Loneliness in old age is an increasing social problem,” said Drese in the state parliament on Thursday.
According to her, seniors make up the largest population group in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Around 565,000 residents of the federal state are 60 years and older – a good 35 percent of the total population. “At 47.7 years, we have the third-highest average age of all federal states.”
Drese announced the development of strategies against loneliness in old age. One of the building blocks should be the promotion of the commitment of older people. “Commitment is an important key to preventing loneliness, enabling participation and promoting community,” she said, referring to the almost 800 so-called senior trainers in the country. After training, they got involved, for example, reading aloud in day care centers, as a job or family sponsor or as a dream grandmother or grandfather. Others, as “silver surfers”, would help their peers with smartphones, tablets or computers.
The FDP called for the creation of a loneliness report that includes all sections of the population. “Loneliness has many faces and is not a question of age,” said MP Barbara Becker-Hornickel. Nevertheless, she meets a lot of older people right now. “It sneaks imperceptibly into life and can make you ill.” The senior policy spokeswoman for the left, Elke-Annette Schmidt, emphasized that senior policy must be about more than care and provision.
The SPD deputy Christine Klingohr emphasized the importance of digital skills for older people in order to enable better community in rural areas. “The benefits that videoconferencing offers in the workplace can also, one-to-one, help bring seniors closer together, even if they live scattered across villages,” she said. Contact with the doctor can also be simplified for both sides. This can help avoid cumbersome journeys.
For the Greens, MP Anne Shepley referred to the results of the commission of inquiry on life in old age in MV six years ago. This must be taken into account, she said. The country must finally create the legal basis for implementation.
