Goodbye retirement: 66-year-old is fighting the shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare system!

Goodbye retirement: 66-year-old is fighting the shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare system!

What happens in the healthcare world when retirement is suddenly no longer part of the majority's dream? Elmar Arens, a 66-year-old retired family doctor from North Rhine-Westphalia, is a living example of this. Instead of putting his feet up, Arens seizes the opportunity and works three days a week at the Loretto Hospital in Freiburg. With a 40 percent position and often extended working hours, he is back in everyday clinical life, and not without reason. The industry is facing an urgent skills shortage, and Arens' return is part of a model attempt to address this daily news reported.

The decision to go back to work after years of retirement came from his neighbor, the medical director of Loretto Hospital. After a trial period, the team at the Arens orthopedic ward could no longer imagine themselves without him. At the beginning his return was marked by skepticism, but this quickly disappeared; Resident physicians regularly sought his advice and his in-depth experience was valued.

The shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare sector

Arens is not alone in this boat. The shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare sector is one of the greatest challenges of our time. According to one Study by PwC There will be a shortage of around 1.8 million skilled workers in Germany by 2035. The shortages not only affect doctors, but also nursing staff and therapists. The effects are serious: longer waiting times for patients, overloading of existing staff and a deterioration in the quality of care are just some of the problems that are already being felt.

What is being done to counteract this shortage of skilled workers? Employers must offer targeted incentives – from attractive salaries to flexible working time models. Another deciding factor for qualified professionals who are willing to change is better working conditions. 68 percent of those who would work in the health sector say that pay is crucial to their ability to stay until retirement. A decent salary is therefore at the top of the list of wishes, followed by improved working hours and better staffing, should the industry not continue to bleed dry like this Digital Institute explained.

The role of experienced professionals

The return of experienced specialists, as shown by Elmar Arens, offers a promising solution. His work includes high-level activities that are often lost between operations and rounds, such as blood pressure and blood sugar measurements. Assistant doctor Cäcilia Mikolajek describes him as a “constant” in the team who not only offers medical knowledge but also important psychological relief for the patients. Many patients find the time and attention he gives them to be crucial to their well-being.

The hospital itself sees the project as a kind of stroke of luck. Clinic director Frank Hassel emphasizes the benefits for everyone involved, while Arens experiences returning to work as an enrichment. With an ideal mix of part-time work and free time, he has found a solution that can serve as a role model for many.

The shortage of skilled workers is a social problem that affects us all. We must take the challenges seriously and work together on solutions in order to keep healthcare in Germany at a high level in the future.