Public welfare concept against the nursing shortage

Health and care for old and young

Künzelsau, 16 October 2020 - The nursing care crisis in Germany has not only been going on since the Corona crisis. In hospitals, nursing and old people's homes, many nursing staff have been working beyond the limits of their capacity for years. More and more relatives are capitulating to the demands of home care. Numerous intensive care beds for adults and children can no longer be used in German hospitals because the necessary personnel is lacking. The demand for nursing staff can hardly be met and yet it continues to grow inexorably. Applause and warm words do not help any more than laudable reform approaches that cannot be financed. According to the economic bionics experts at the Gradido Academy, only a fundamental reform can actually remedy the situation. They see the only chance for decent care in sickness and old age in an innovative economic, financial and social system. 

The German debt clock shows record value

This year, the federal and state governments are looking forward to new debt of around 330 billion euros. For 2021, the Taxpayers' Association forecasts a further 96 billion debts for Germany. For the first time in the 25-year history of its existence, the debt clock of the German Taxpayers Association is rising by more than 10,000 euros per second. Against this background, the question arises to what dizzying heights the planned nursing care reform by the Minister of Health will catapult the mountain of debt of future generations? According to initial estimates, around six billion taxpayers' money will be used for this. At the same time, there are discussions about how the empty coffers of health insurance companies could be refilled. "This approach cannot be successful at all," says Bernd Hückstädt, co-founder of the Gradido Academy for Economic Bionics. 

For more than 20 years, the Academy in Künzelsau, Baden-Württemberg, has been investigating which models of nature could also be successfully applied in industry. One of the most important findings is: "As long as the assets of one person are necessarily the debts of another, there is no socially acceptable financial system. We cannot meet the current challenges - also in view of the ageing society - with this system". 

Nursing crisis calls for reform of the financial system

The corona crisis has brought into focus those who otherwise often only receive attention when there is a threat of illness and need for care. Nurses and geriatric nurses were able to enjoy many warm words and thunderous applause. "However, no one has yet found a way to pay, appreciate, encourage and support these indispensable people in such a way that helping them is a source of fulfilment", Hückstädt objects. According to the AOK's nursing report from 2019, 130,000 additional nursing staff will be needed by 2030 to care for people in need of care simply because of the ageing population. 

In view of the fact that more and more people are leaving the nursing profession and are looking for new is missing, an almost insoluble problem. "In a transformed financial system that follows the laws of nature, a solution could also be found for the care and health care needed that takes into account everyone and does not overburden future generations," Hückstädt explains. 

Health care is the imperative of humanity 

The Gradido model pursues the declared goal of achieving all 17 UN sustainability goals. The third defined goal is 'to ensure a healthy life for all people of all ages and to promote their well-being'. The Gradido community sees the promotion of health as an imperative of the deepest humanity: "In the Gradido model, the national budget also includes the health sector. Access to health care is thus guaranteed free of charge for all people. People are free to decide which form of health care they want to choose".

In concrete terms, the Gradido model is based on three pillars

1. The common good currency Gradido
2. The Triple Good
3. An Active Basic Income / Unconditional Participation in Community Life

The common good currency Gradido 

In principle, money is nothing more than computer numbers in databases. The term 'money creation' comes from the financial world. It describes the way in which money is created, i.e. according to which rules the numbers are written into computer databases. In the old monetary system, money is created by debts, i.e. the sum of all credit balances is as high as the sum of all debts worldwide. In Gradido, money is created as a credit for each person, without creating debts. 

Triple benefit

Gradido's basic ethical principle is based on reconciling the well-being of the individual with that of the community and the greater whole - in the interests of nature and the environment. The individual is part of the community, the state, and the state is part of the 'big picture', the ecosystem. If one of these three aspects is neglected, the whole system is shaken. Per capita, 3 × 1,000 Gradido are created. 1,000 Gradido each for the Active Basic Income, for the state budget and for the Compensation and Environmental Fund.

'Active basic income' for everyday helpers in care 

The 'Active Basic Income' originates from the idea of 'unconditional participation'. Whoever wants to take advantage of it can contribute to the community at any age with his or her talents, inclinations and possibilities. For each person, 1,000 Gradido (GDD) of the common good currency are available monthly as a basic income. One Gradido corresponds to the value of one Euro. A maximum of 50 hours per month are remunerated with 20 GDD each. This sum is a basic amount, in addition to other sources of income. 

Daily care services for people in need of care can be provided via the 'Active Basic Income' - and thus help to considerably relieve the burden on skilled nursing staff, family carers and health insurance funds. People who would like to become involved in nursing care are also offered opportunities for advice and further training, as in all other occupational fields.

'Unconditional participation'. 

Every person is allowed to take on a task for the 'Active Basic Income' which he or she is happy to fulfil. In this way the system creates the best conditions for success at all levels. 

In addition, everyone can do what he or she would like to do from the heart without fear of existence - that is, follow their inner calling. A large part of the stress-related diseases of civilization could be eliminated by this. A positive effect on many diseases of old age is the chance to be an active part of the community until the end of life. 

Health pool for comprehensive health care

In the Gradido model, the state budget is generated by the second money creation. The money creation is per capita. This means that each state has the same amount of state income per citizen. In Germany, the second money creation is roughly equivalent to the current public budget (federal, state and local government) plus health and social services. In fact, more money will be available for health care in the Gradido model than before. The working conditions as well as the remuneration of nursing staff could thus be improved considerably. 

The end of the debt payment principle creates solidarity between the generations

Margret Baier, the managing director of the Gradido Academy emphasizes that "our living together could take on a whole new quality if the assets of one person are no longer necessarily the debts of the other. Young and old people would no longer be 'rivals' in the struggle to secure their existence and their standard of living. Through the 'Active Basic Income', the Gradido model can therefore also promote intergenerational cooperation. Mutual care and charity are essential for a fulfilled life for all generations. Unconditional Participation' is beneficial to the fruitful exchange between people of different ages, backgrounds and education". 

For details of the complete 'Gradido model' see https://gradido.net