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CHILDREN

Germany’s Rent-a-Granny future

With Germany’s society ageing rapidly, Roger Boyes, the Berlin correspondent of British daily The Times, explains why you soon might have to pay your grandmother for her valuable time.

Germany’s Rent-a-Granny future
Photo: DPA

Have you noticed how old people have been replacing car showrooms on West Berlin’s once-proud boulevard Kurfürstendamm?

Instead of the traditional practice of hiding the aged away in leafy suburban residences – on the spurious grounds that they need to suck in the forest air and hear the twittering of birds to stave off the Grim Reaper – they are living out in the open in the German capital, sandwiched between Kaisers supermarkets and Tchibo shops.

Their new homes are given supposedly glamorous but actually tactless names like Diana (did she not die in a car crash?) or, worse, Phoenix (rising from the ashes of retirement?) Anything really apart from Senioren-Residenz, which has a slight aura of decay, of the twilight zone.

What has changed, of course, is the city’s rental market. It is cheaper than ever to live on the wrong end of the Ku’damm – that is, anything beyond Adenauerplatz with its Sex shops and thrift stores – or on the once-fashionable Charlottenburg side streets. Plus there is good parking when the children come to visit on Mother’s Day. And, most important, old people themselves are no longer being seen as a separate species in Germany. It turns out, to the general amazement of urban planners and property developers, that they like human contact, that they have money and indeed are about the only Berliners willing to spend it at the moment.

So, nix the “Oma Barracks.” Instead, take up the message of Barack Obama: yes we can! Moving the oldies into the city centre is merely the first stage of empowerment for the over-60s, not only as recession-proof consumers, but as part of a new social alignment of Germany’s rapidly ageing society.

For once, the British are slightly ahead on this issue. The UK government is considering a scheme whereby grandparents will be paid to look after their grandchildren. Apparently grandparents are currently saving the state over €4 billion a year by providing free childcare. One in four families uses a grandparent for babysitting at least once a week. The proposal now is that families should receive a weekly €350 childcare allowance – basically a tax rebate – which they use to pay Oma and Opa. The result will be a surge of helpful oldies, freeing mothers to return to work.

Now, I can see a couple of problems with this. The first is naturally how does the state intend to pay for this? But with the government throwing billions at inefficient bankers, the question seems absurd. Since we know that old people spend their cash, why not give them greater earnings potential: the ailing economy can only benefit.

Second, should grandparents not be looking after the kids out of love, rather than financial interest?

This answer is more complex. Within my ageing circle of friends – elastic jeans, a tendency to mimic the guitar strumming of Jimi Hendrix when drunk, a nagging worry about hair loss – the interest in grand children seems to be rather abstract.

There is pride, of course, and photographs of lumpy unexceptional babies are removed from wallets more quickly than Lucky Luke can draw his Colt. Birthdays are remembered and celebrated, even if the young granddads I know usually find themselves on the balcony, away from the monkey house noise, puffing a Marlboro.

But actual childcare, regular, confident and reliable, is undertaken more out of guilt than with enthusiasm. Grandparents often feel that they somehow failed as parents and hope to compensate with the next generation, but confronted with the reality of nappy stench, they flag a little.

Money changes the equation. Active grandparenting becomes part of a contract. The classic confrontation between grandmother and adult daughter about how best to raise a baby – often stirring up bitter memories about past (real or imagined) neglect – will evaporate. The authority will rest with the mother of the baby who can, if necessary, fire the Grandma. Grandchildren will be less spoiled. And Oma and Opa will feel less exploited, less manipulated. The exchange of money sometimes poisons relationships but in this case I think it clarifies matters.

I have been arguing for years that the age of the au pair is coming to an end. Working parents are playing roulette by handing over their children to teenagers who often speak imperfect German, who cannot cook and cannot concentrate on the child because they are too busy answering text messages from similarly bored friends.

Grandparents may have outdated ideas and they may not be able to play football in the park, but at least they do not have eating disorders. They know when a child is sick or just pretending; they know the difference between a Big Mac and a bowl of homemade vegetable soup.

Not everyone has a grandmother willing or fit enough for childcare, but there is a large pool of other grandmothers out there in the city. What matters is the maturity, not the blood-tie.

Rent-a-grandmother: that is the future of Germany.

For more Roger Boyes, check out his website here.

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BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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