Ethical Challenges in Home and Residential Long-Term Care

Caring for people with chronic illnesses or physical, psychological or mental impairments who are dependent on long-term support or nursing is facing a variety of challenges and changes. Given demographic change and shifting family structures and values, it seems at least questionable that care will continue to be provided predominantly by relatives and friends in the home environment in the future. At the same time, the situation of professional care in both outpatient and residential long-term care is characterised by increasing technical and ethical complexity, along with a shortage of skilled nursing staff and rising costs.

The German Ethics Council wants to further the understanding of the challenges in long-term care and contribute to overcoming them by developing answers to pertinent questions of individual ethics, organisational ethics and social ethics. This hearing serves to deepen the Council member’s understanding of the complex problems in the various areas of long-term care by giving them opportunity for exchange with those affected and with experts as well as with representatives of institutions and associations about their experiences, insights and prospects.

The Ethics Council is keen to take into account the perspectives of those in need of care and those providing it. The hearing will examine the situation both in home and residential long-term care and take a closer look at the ethical challenges and interests of healthcare professionals and of relatives and other close contacts. Because the financing of long-term care raises its own ethical questions, economic and organisational aspects will also play a role in the hearing. In their respective areas of expertise, professionals as well as those affected will be asked to share their views on the most significant ethical problems, but also on possible solutions and examples of best practice.

Please switch to the German version of this website to see the programme.