Day 1

Four minutes of socializing for an elderly person in Germany

Less lonely together Less lonely together

Four minutes of socializing for an elderly person in Germany
Day 1
Help for older people in Berlin

In spring 2020, the message on protection against the corona virus was clear: everyone should stay at home if possible and significantly limit contact with other people. During this time, many people realized how much they depend on community. Young people used creative ideas to network online. However, for many older people who do not have access to the possibilities of the digital world, this option was not an option. And many of them had already felt lonely before the crisis. According to a study by the German Ageing Survey (BMFSFJ, 2020), more than 20 percent of people over 85 living in Germany are at risk of social isolation. This risk increases with age. But not everyone whose social contacts are limited has to feel lonely. Those who are particularly lonely are those who want more social contacts than they actually have. People who are no longer so good on their feet find it particularly difficult to maintain contacts.

Help for older people in Berlin
need
Shared experiences for elderly people in need of support to combat loneliness and isolation.
activity
Excursions and leisure activities with barrier-free transport and personal care for older people from Berlin-Kreuzberg
Measurable performance
Number of minutes of shared activities and outings for older people.
Result
Older people in need make new contacts and have new projects to look forward to.
Systemically relevant impact
Lonely older people are integrated into a social network and can develop independently for longer. They stay healthier and have a higher quality of life.
background

One in four older people only has friends and acquaintances visit them once a month (DZA, 2014). Especially in German cities, older people often live alone and are at risk of becoming lonely. Those who are also affected by poverty are considered to be particularly at risk. There are effective ways to combat loneliness: talking, listening, going out, sharing experiences. When and how a person feels lonely is different for each affected person. Of over 70 senior citizens surveyed in Berlin's Wassertor district, 57 percent said that they did not have enough social contacts. Almost a fifth felt that their life was not worth living. In the Kreuzberg district, the risk of old-age poverty is highest in Berlin.

The risk of becoming lonely increases particularly for older people who live alone, are affected by poverty, have experienced strokes of fate or are ill and have limited mobility. Studies show that loneliness is a risk factor for high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and mental illness (Luhmann & Bücker, 2019). Lonely people are often less active, more anxious and more pessimistic. They are more likely to expect negative experiences in interactions with others than non-lonely people (Paritätischer Gesamtverband, 2019). But in order to live healthily, people need to feel like they are part of a community.
"I had distanced myself from myself. The regular meetings with others also brought me closer to myself again" (Ms. B., translated from Turkish). Especially in cities, local meeting opportunities can also be a substitute for family (BMFSFJ, 2019). Older people receive help here in establishing new contacts and are integrated into a social network.

Day 1 Day 1
The good deed

With today's good deed, you are helping poorer older people from Berlin-Kreuzberg to make new social contacts. You are enabling an older person to take part in day trips and leisure activities. Barrier-free transport options are offered so that people with limited mobility can also take part in the leisure activities. In an excursion and event calendar, Wassertor eV draws attention to dance events, bus trips and trips into the green surrounding area. The calendar is distributed directly in hallways, doctors' offices and pharmacies in the neighborhood. This is the best way to reach senior citizens.

AboutGermany
Berlin
Berlin
Capital city
83,132,800
83,132,800
Population
$46,946
$46,946
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 4 of 189
Rank 4 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

In 2018, one in three people living alone in Germany was over 65 years old. 21 percent of the total population is 65 or older. Researchers estimate that this proportion will rise to 38 percent by 2050 (BMSFJ, 2019).