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The number of people in need of care is rising steadily. Scientists speak of an aging society and warn that expectations of care will change and that the shortage of skilled care workers will also increase. New forms of care must therefore be developed and innovative concepts tested - including locally in the cities. In the citizens' dialogs from March 28 to April 1, 2023, the "Future Image of Care" initiative is asking the people of Bielefeld how they imagine the care of the future in their district.

Starting on March 28, 2023, the citizens of Bielefeld in Brackwede, Sennestadt, Baumheide, Stieghorst and Heepen are invited to join in the discussion about aging and care of the future in their district. The initiators of the "Future Image of Care" are following up on the large-scale survey of the Bielefeld population in 2022 and would like to deepen the results in discussions with citizens.

"How do you imagine the care of the future in your district?"

This question is the focus of the citizens' dialogs in Bielefeld. On five consecutive days, the initiative will have its own stand in each of the Bielefeld districts to engage in conversation with citizens. Interested parties can join in the discussion and contribute their own ideas at eight stations, each starting at 9:00 a.m. near the weekly market.

In addition, Uwe Borchers, Managing Director of ZIG, will invite actors from administration, care and society to exchange ideas and discuss creative approaches to solutions: "The future of care concerns us all. The active participation of citizens is a key factor in solving this social task. The citizens' dialogs invite people to join in the discussion and action and offer new approaches to shaping care on the ground."

Prof. Dr. Ingo Ballschmieter, Scientific Director Open Innovation City, says: "The innovative design of major social tasks requires the broad involvement of citizens. After all, good ideas are everywhere in an urban society. The citizens' dialogues take this approach and enable an important discussion on caring for the future in Bielefeld."

The citizens' dialogs will take place in five Bielefeld districts:

The initiators, consisting of the City of Bielefeld (Department for Social Affairs and Integration),
v. Bodelschwinghschen Stiftungen Bethel, Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wohlfahrtsverbände (AGW), Zentrum für Innovation in der Gesundheitswirtschaft (ZIG OWL) and Open Innovation City, surveyed the people of Bielefeld about their image of the future of care as a first step.

"Local Bielefelders who did not take part in the survey on the "future image of care" can now participate in the citizens' dialogues," makes Silke Aron, Head of the Office for Social Planning of the City of Bielefeld, clear. "These discussions in the districts are important to us in order to draw conclusions from this mood and to include the results in the planning of care for the elderly in the city of Bielefeld. Because planning care offers and care structures without those who potentially need them makes no sense."

Richildis Wälter (AGW) points out the importance of the debate about care today in order to shape it together for tomorrow in Bielefeld: "Care concerns us all, because each of us has relatives, friends or neighbors who need support and care. A broad dialog in the neighborhood is necessary so that we can make care visible and show the attractiveness of care."