Opinion: Our Elderly Deserve Quality, Not Just the Lowest Price

As a healthcare assistant working in geriatrics and home care, I witness firsthand the daily struggles within Sweden's elder care system. Returning to Sweden after years abroad, I am dismayed to see a system that seems to have forgotten the human element of care, prioritizing budget goals over the well-being of our elderly. My position offers a unique vantage point, observing patterns that management often misses. Yet, my voice, and that of many like me, is rarely heard. Instead, we face a rigid hierarchy where experience is undervalued and cost-cutting dictates hiring practices. The most painful aspect is seeing the pursuit of cheap labor overshadow the quality of care our elders deserve. These individuals built this country, and they merit security, not constant staff turnover.

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Det är dags att sluta se äldreomsorgen som en utgiftspost som ska bantas. Ansvariga måste börja lyssna på oss som faktiskt är där ute.

The language barrier presents another critical issue. I encounter colleagues daily who struggle with Swedish, hindering their ability to understand medical instructions or provide comfort to anxious patients. When communication falters, so do safety and dignity. I see the vacant stares of the elderly who are not understood, and the exhaustion of those of us who care deeply but lack the necessary tools to perform our jobs effectively. How can a manager approve hires when basic communication is compromised? The answer is often simple: it was the cheapest option.

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Som timanställd inom geriatrik och hemtjänst har jag ett unikt perspektiv. Jag är vårdens ”inspektör i smyg”.

This path of prioritizing savings over competence is dangerous. Working in healthcare requires compassion, but also professional knowledge and the ability to connect with the person in your care. We must stop viewing elder care as a mere expense to be minimized. Those in charge need to listen to those of us on the front lines who see the deficiencies daily. If we, who observe the flaws, do not speak up, who will advocate for the elderly? We must demand a system that values quality, communication, and the inherent dignity of every individual receiving care.

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Det mest smärtsamma är att se hur jakten på billig arbetskraft har blivit viktigare än kvaliteten i vården.