There are things in the great welfare state that seem meaningless and close to incomprehensible.
Because why is it that elderly people who need home care have to lie overnight with feces in their nappies. Why must the staff be pressured so hard that they quit in droves. Why is there a visitor sitting and making a timetable that allocates five minutes to a trip that cannot possibly be completed in less than 10.
Why is it that no money is set aside for proper home care in Jammerbugt Municipality and many other places?
If it was just the case that the kingdom was so short of money, it was understandable after all.
But we don’t really lack money.
Despite regular whining about the prices, most people can afford a life in the comfortable version. Merchants find it difficult to find space for all the packages that are ordered home from China, and in a country where the most sold car costs over DKK 300,000, it is far from everyone who really has any reason to complain that the list price for half a pound of butter is over 30 kroner.
The state treasury does not seem to lack money either. The Finance Act came in on Friday, and it does not signal need, but rather a country that has so much money that they must have crazy legs to walk on.
The children first. Future generations will – perhaps – no longer have to make do with homemade butter and an unhealthy Kinder milkshake. In any case, only 104 million has been set aside for an experimental scheme with free school meals, but whether it is enough for quite a lot of nutritious meals is doubtful. First, there must be funds to furnish the planning office in inner Copenhagen for the expected army of sustainability consultants, and the content creators who will be in charge of the TikTok campaign cannot work creatively with hot air without inspiring and inclusive surroundings. This kind of thing costs money, and so do the evaluation consultants who have to write a report that no one reads anyway.
Neither was the lost youth passed over. They get a gift neither of them has ever expressed desire for, and may never use. Without the slightest doubt of their own cunning, the government, SF, Enhedslisten, De Radikale and Alternativet have decided to give the 43,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24, who are not in work or studying, a digital payment card of DKK 2,000.
– With the cultural pass, young people from smaller towns like Brovst or Brønderslev can now have the opportunity to visit Aalborg’s Musikkens Hus, go to an AaB match or experience art at Kunsten, writes Mohammad Rona, member of parliament for the Moderates in a post in Nordjutsy, and much more clearly you can’t say that you don’t know much about either maladjusted young people from Brovst or real art institutions. A lot can be said about art, but it does not appeal to 17-year-old social losers – in fact, there are very few places where such 17-year-olds will feel left out and completely un-included.
Finally, there was also money for a swimming bridge in Nørresundby, and extra tax deductions for homeowners who could afford to improve their homes. Both parts nice to have, but they cannot be called strictly necessary.
However, there was no extra money for domestic help.
If you ask the government why, the answer will be that it is not money taken from the domestic help account. That the 300 million for artisan deductions is from another column in the spreadsheet, and the 140 million for the cultural passport are figures from a completely different calculation. And that the government has already sent extra billions to the municipalities.
That is also true enough.
On the other hand, it is also true that both domestic help and tradesman allowance are paid from the same large joint fund.
This is why it is so difficult to understand that there is no way for the elderly not to sleep for a night with a full nappy.
2024-11-23 19:46:00
#money #afford #elderly
What are the key systemic issues that impact the quality of home care services for the elderly in municipalities like Jammerbugt?
**Interview with Welfare Policy Expert on Home Care and Budget Allocations**
**Editor:** Today, we are joined by Dr. Anna Sørensen, a welfare policy expert, to discuss the pressing concerns surrounding home care for the elderly in municipalities like Jammerbugt, as well as the broader implications of recent budget allocations by the government. Thank you for being here, Dr. Sørensen.
**Dr. Sørensen:** Thank you for having me. I’m glad to be part of this important conversation.
**Editor:** Let’s dive right in. There have been alarming reports about elderly individuals in need of home care experiencing neglect. Can you elaborate on the systemic issues contributing to this situation?
**Dr. Sørensen:** Absolutely. The issues stem from a combination of underfunding and poor management within the home care system. For instance, many municipalities don’t allocate enough resources to ensure that caregivers can provide the necessary attention and time to each individual. As you mentioned, staff are often overwhelmed, leading to high turnover rates, which exacerbates the quality of care provided.
**Editor:** It seems there’s a paradox here—on one hand, we hear about financial constraints; yet, you mentioned that the government doesn’t seem to lack funds elsewhere. Can you clarify this?
**Dr. Sørensen:** Yes, that’s a significant point. Despite the rhetoric around financial shortages, the recent Finance Act indicates that the state has adequate financial resources. The allocations for various projects, such as the digital payment cards for young people, raise questions about prioritization. The government seems more inclined to fund initiatives that create immediate media engagement rather than addressing critical welfare needs like home care.
**Editor:** There’s also criticism about budget distribution, particularly with some funds appearing to go towards projects that might not improve the welfare of those in need. What are your thoughts on this?
**Dr. Sørensen:** The allocation of funds can often appear disconnected from the actual needs of the population. Initiatives like free school meals and funds for sustainable management may sound good, but they sometimes overshadow the urgent need for adequate home care for our aging population. When basic care needs are overlooked while spending on less critical initiatives continues, it raises crucial ethical and practical questions.
**Editor:** Lastly, if you could suggest one immediate change to improve the situation for elderly home care in places like Jammerbugt, what would it be?
**Dr. Sørensen:** The immediate focus should be on ensuring that financial resources are allocated directly to improve home care services. This means increasing funding for hiring more staff, providing better training, and allowing for sufficient time spent per patient. Creating a sustainable workforce in home care is vital, and retaining staff should be prioritized so that they can provide the compassionate, consistent care that our elderly deserve.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Sørensen. Your insights shed light on the complexities of welfare funding and the urgent needs of vulnerable populations. We hope to see meaningful changes in the near future.
**Dr. Sørensen:** Thank you for addressing these vital issues. I hope for improvements in our system that truly serve those in need.
