Controversial pilot project: city offers retirees free vacation in the south

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Summer, sun, sangria. Seems like a better schedule than cleaning, maintenance and rain. Especially for retirees in the Scandinavian country of Denmark.

At least that’s what officials in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen think. In the last budget round, they approved a two-year trial: According to it, seniors from Copenhagen should be able to spend a week of charter vacations south for free. As the Altinget newspaper reported, this was in exchange for another week of support from the city.

Money is saved

It is about the quality of life and health of the elderly. But that’s not all: it’s also about easing the burden on the city’s healthcare system.

“The weekly wages are roughly the same,” assures Jens-Kristian Lütken, Copenhagen’s mayor for work and integration. In other words: saving services such as preparing meals and cleaning the house can practically be used in a 1:1 ratio for a week’s vacation in the south. Lütkens even believes that money will ultimately be saved.

mixed reactions

Some old town residents rejoice at the possibility of free vacations. But there are criticisms, too: Lone Skov Al Awssi, member of the Copenhagen Council of Elders, says: “If daily life for our seniors was really going well, I’d be very happy with the offer, but that’s not the case.”

He also does not believe that the calculation will increase: retirees who need the least help and care will likely go on free vacation. As a result, the health system is relieved in terms of neither cost nor personnel.

Elderly people surveyed in the Danish media don’t think the idea is fundamentally wrong, especially since it gives single people the opportunity to socialize on a charter trip. But there are doubts as to whether the calculation will work. And many would rather use domestic help and Spitex than take a free vacation.

not a new idea

Denmark has already tested such a program once. In 2000, Peter Brixtofte, the then mayor of the Copenhagen suburb of Farum, launched “welfare outings” for the community’s retirees. They took advantage of trips to Gran Canaria, Türkiye or Lanzarote. However, these were canceled in 2002. Brixtofte mismanaged the community’s finances and embezzled funds. Will it be better this time?

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Source :Blick