Committee's role extended to report drafting process.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, a community nursing initiative called "GemeindeschwesterPlus" is making a significant impact on the lives of elderly individuals who wish to maintain their independence at home. This project, launched in 2015, focuses on providing personalised health and social support to those aged 80 and above, helping them combat loneliness and social isolation.
The core of the "GemeindeschwesterPlus" project lies in specially trained community nurses who visit seniors regularly. These visits serve multiple purposes:
- Personalised health and social support: Nurses offer assistance to help seniors maintain their independence, addressing any health concerns that may arise.
- Early identification of health or social issues: By regularly checking in, nurses can identify potential problems before they escalate, reducing the need for hospitalisation or institutional care.
- Assistance with navigating healthcare and social services: Nurses help seniors navigate the complex world of healthcare and social services, ensuring they receive the care they need.
- Emotional support and regular contact: Regular visits provide seniors with much-needed emotional support, helping to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.
By addressing both health and psychosocial needs, the "GemeindeschwesterPlus" project promotes social inclusion and effectively counters loneliness. The project does not provide care for very elderly people over 80 years old who still live in their own homes but rather serves as a point of contact and a facilitator of care services.
Community nurses are also instrumental in strengthening existing structures through their work in the "GemeindeschwesterPlus" project. They initiate local health-promoting and independence-enhancing social offers, acting as a crucial tool for local networking. The project has expanded beyond its initial pilot in seven municipalities, now covering 16 districts, 8 independent cities, 3 associations of municipalities, and one independent municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The "GemeindeschwesterPlus" project in Rhineland-Palatinate aims to address the challenges of social isolation and loneliness in old age, without replacing existing care services but rather complementing and strengthening them. Nurses mediate access to existing, easily accessible, and suitable offers such as senior centers, exercise programs, or courses.
As the project continues to expand its reach and services, it is making a real difference in the lives of elderly individuals, enabling them to stay longer in their own homes safely and with a better quality of life, reducing the need for nursing homes. For more detailed information or up-to-date reports about how the program is implemented specifically in Rhineland-Palatinate, it is recommended to consult official regional health or social service websites or contact local authorities who run the project. The goal is to expand the offer to cover the entire region by 2026.
- The "GemeindeschwesterPlus" project, which has made significant strides in Rhineland-Palatinate, also concentrates on the health-and-wellness aspect of family-health, particularly for seniors aged 80 and above.
- Beyond physical health, the project is equally concerned with addressing the mental-health needs of seniors, offering emotional support to combat loneliness and isolation.
- In addition to its support for men's-health, the project has a specific focus on women's-health, ensuring that both genders receive comprehensive care.
- As the project evolves and grows, it also aims to support parenting by guiding seniors towards suitable resources and services, ultimately contributing to family-health in a holistic manner.
