Overworked Care Workers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Suffer High Sickness Rates
Healthcare Assistants Possibly More Prone to Frequent Illnesses Compared to Staff in Other Industries - Healthcare Professionals, Particularly Nurses, Experience Higher Illness Rates Compared to Workers in Other Industries
Our recap: Care workers in the northeastern region of Germany, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, take on more sick days compared to employees in other fields, with an average absence of 32.6 days in 2022, according to health insurance provider Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). This is a worryingly high sickness rate that surpasses the national average of 28.5 days.
Now, let's delve a bit deeper into the reasons behind this troubling trend:
Exhaustion, Exposure, and Underlying Health Factors
The grueling nature of care work puts care providers in a precarious position. They often face strenuous physical demands, such as lifting, moving, and attending to patients, thus making them susceptible to work-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. The constant emotional and psychological strain caused by endless caregiving and witnessing patients' suffering can also lead to burnout.
To complicate matters further, care workers in regions like Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are exposed to a higher risk of infectious diseases due to their frequent patient contact. Closely working with patients, especially during disease outbreaks, increases care workers' chances of contracting transmissible illnesses.
Apart from the work-related factors, underlying health conditions prevalent in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern population may significantly impact the sickness rates of its care workers. Chronic conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity are more widespread in this region, making workers vulnerable to developing complications and falling ill.
Strained Healthcare System and Workforce
The healthcare system within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can also play a role in higher sickness rates among care workers. Poorer staffing levels, increased workloads, and inadequate occupational health support can exact a heavy toll on these vital workers. When care facilities are understaffed, the physical and mental stress on care workers increases, ultimately leading to higher sick leave.
In response to these issues, TK Director Manon Austenat-Wied has called upon care providers to foster supportive work environments, making the profession more attractive to potential employees. She remarked that care workers are invaluable and indispensable in our aging society, and existing health promotion offers can contribute to creating a healthier workforce.
[1] - https://www.germanwatch.org/en/15374[3] - https://www.mecksalus.de/themen/gesundheitsberichterstattung/
- The high sickness rates among care workers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern might be linked to the stressors particular to their profession, such as strenuous physical demands and emotional strain, which can lead to burnout and chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity.
- To address these concerns, encouraging vocational training programs in fields like healthcare, workplace-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition could empower care workers with the necessary skills to maintain their health and manage stress more effectively.
- It's essential to focus on science-backed approaches to promote health and wellness in the community, as these strategies may lead to a reduction in chronic diseases, medical-conditions, and improved chronic disease management, thereby lowering sickness rates.
- Moreover, implementing a community policy that prioritizes healthcare worker well-being, workloads, and occupational health support might help alleviate the heavy toll on care providers and create a healthier, more sustainable work environment.
