The SPD party criticizes the costly research into loneliness.

Community matters - The SPD party criticizes the costly research into loneliness.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has criticized the state government for ignoring social issues. Birte Pauls, a health politician from SPD, spoke to the German Press Agency about the causes of loneliness among seniors: "The most common reasons for loneliness in old age are likely poverty, illness, lack of education, changing life circumstances, and insufficient responses." She critiqued a study commissioned by the state government that cost 63,600 euros: "We don't have a knowledge problem, we have a lack of action. Expensive studies won't change that. Other countries have been tackling this for years using different approaches."

Minister for Social Affairs of the Green Party, Aminata Touré, accused Pauls of not wanting to shape social policy. "We need to stop wasting time on working groups, round tables, commissions, tenders, and studies. These activities hinder us from taking immediate action. Social policy is not just about nice images on social media. It lays the foundation for a fair and harmonious society."

Pauls noted that many people in nursing homes or care facilities feel lonely due to limited opportunities to participate in social activities, which is often caused by a lack of respite care. She emphasized the importance of addressing loneliness, as it can have severe implications on physical and mental health. Pauls also mentioned a proposal from the Workers' Welfare Association - social neighborhood management - as a potential solution.

"In Denmark, on-site social work has been going on for decades, and in England, there's even a separate ministry dedicated solely to combating loneliness as a cross-cutting issue," said Pauls. The SPD has already come up with a solution dubbed 'Vor-Ort-für-dich-Kraft' that would analyze the needs for support in daily life and involve the local community in helping out."

Read also:

1. The SPD further criticized the state government's social policy, highlighting the expense of a research study into loneliness as an example of misdirected resources.
2. Birte Pauls, a health politician from SPD, argued that the root causes of senior loneliness lie in factors like poverty, illness, lack of education, and changing life circumstances, not a lack of knowledge.
3. In Schleswig-Holstein, the State Government spent 63,600 euros on a loneliness study, but Pauls suggested that this investment would not lead to action if not accompanied by concrete implementation.
4. Minister Aminata Touré, representing the Green Party in social affairs, criticized Pauls, stating that too much energy is spent on research and not enough on actual policies.
5. Pauls pointed out that many individuals in nursing homes and care facilities often feel lonely due to a lack of social activities, emphasizing the need for solutions like the SPD's 'Vor-Ort-für-dich-Kraft', focusing on community involvement and local support.

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