Das Gemeindeschwesterplus-Experiment in Modellkommunen des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz

Based on an evaluation study, this analysis explains the legal and political discussion about an experimental pilot scheme involving preventive home visits (consultations in connection with case management and network building) for vulnerable elderly people in some regions of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The idea revolves around topics and issues relating to the social needs of elderly people who do not have long-term nursing care but have to cope with different social challenges. The most important risk factor in the context of vulnerability during old age is the loss of social network support. Therefore, the pilot is embedded in the idea of social capital building according to the capability approach in modern social policy theory. This book’s reconstruction of the aforementioned critical debates places an emphasis on legal questions related to inclusivity and on the problems of the political actors responsible for organising the scheme.