What are your specific tasks and responsibilities in the social service area?
As a city councilor of Rorschach, I am responsible for the area of “social affairs”. I introduce associated topics to the city council and/or provide new information about this area.
Close cooperation with all important players in this field is essential. For example, I am on the board of Spitex, on the regional committee of Pro Senectute, on the operating committee of the retirement home of the city of Rorschach and on the board of directors of the special-purpose association PeLago, a nursing home in the Rorschach region, which is operated in cooperation with other communities.
As a municipality, we are involved in these organizations either strategically or within the framework of service agreements (e.g., with Pro Senectute or Spitex) to verify whether their planned procedure is in line with the interests of the city of Rorschach.
What are the main challenges you face regarding the increasing need for care and how does this influence your daily work?
As a city councilor specifically from the perspective of the city of Rorschach, I resp. we have to ensure that ambulatory care is provided. We fulfill our mandate in cooperation with partner organizations that take on tasks within the framework of service agreements.
Due to the shortage of qualified health care personnel and the tight work schedule, it can be difficult to fulfill the service agreement. In order for the services to function properly, well-trained specialists are needed first and foremost. However, finding the necessary personnel is a great challenge given the shortage of skilled healthcare workers.
Moreover, there are currently no concrete strategies on how to address this problem in the long term.
How does the municipality (or public institution) provide support in this regard or what does the municipality (or public institution) do to tackle these challenges?
We try to mitigate the shortage by working with temporary employment agencies or by creating more attractive working conditions for care professionals, for example by offering flexible working hours.
We also invest in training and ensure that our facilities accord high priority to training. However, we do not want to contribute to competition between regions. We want to tackle these challenges in a solution-oriented and sustainable way and not simply shift the problem to other places. Because if people are no longer missing here (in Rorschach), they will be lacking in another place.
The mentioned measures also require our financial support. For example, costs for the deployment of temporary employees (specifically at Spitex) are indirectly borne by the municipality, as they are covered by the so-called residual financing.
In addition to the supporting measures mentioned above, we are also constantly working on new ideas. There is currently a discussion whether we could recruit caregivers more easily with better advertising.
In the end, however, there is a lack of qualified personnel, and all municipalities are searching for them.
What do you think about using technology to recruit more caregivers/health care professionals?
Technologies like the HEROES app are highly interesting. However, we still have to see whether the app actually has potential for practical application or not. And in the distant future, who knows, robots could also provide support when it comes to the shortage of qualified personnel. Perhaps robots can actually be used in the distant future, but in my estimation, this research is still at a very early stage.
Do you see a benefit/added value of an online app including video application and expert reviews?
One must certainly try it. It remains to be seen whether it works or not. The idea of an app that focuses on bringing caregivers and care-receivers together is compelling.
Frankly speaking, however, I am concerned regarding appropriate control instances and assumption of responsibility. Who takes responsibility for ensuring that the right people are found and that they actually have the skills they claim to have? Or what happens if a caregiver or a person providing care is accused of theft? Who handles general insurance-related matters?
For example, with Spitex or Pro Senectute, the respective organization assumes responsibility for the above-mentioned aspects and can thus offer the person to be cared for greater security with regard to high-quality care. Especially since the private home of an older person is a personal and sensitive place, a great deal of trust is required.
Private agreements are therefore good and a possible approach to solving the problem. However, if problems arise during the work assignment, there are some shortcomings.
Do you have any further questions or comments about the HEROES project?
I think it is important to manage the development of HEROES well, otherwise the project risks being perceived like Tinder or Wish.
The main challenge will clearly be to build trust. Since the private aspect of the HEROES approach is delicate, cooperation with organizations such as Pro Senectute, Home Instead or Spitex has many advantages.
