Arbeiten bis 70 – freiwillig?! Ein Arzt erklärt, warum er nicht aufhört | Kölner Pflegetalk

EPISODE 2026 / Week 26 The debate surrounding the abolition of the "retirement at 63" option and the extension of working life regularly sparks outrage. But perhaps it's being conducted too superficially at a crucial point. In this Cologne Nursing Talk, Prof. Dr. Volker Großkopf speaks with diabetologist and long-time hospital physician Dr. Alexander Risse about a question that extends far beyond pension policy: What happens to people when work is no longer just employment, but also identity, structure, and meaning? Dr. Risse is 70 years old and continues to work even after his official retirement – ​​not out of financial necessity, but out of conviction. Work structures daily life, enables social participation, and, above all, conveys the feeling of being needed. 🔍 This is what this Cologne Nursing Talk is about: – Why the pension debate misses the point – Work as a source of meaning: identity, structure, and social participation – Job or calling? Why this question is particularly important in healthcare professions – What happens when people lose their professional role overnight? – Why a uniform retirement age falls short – Physical strain compared: Caregiver, roofer, or office worker? ----------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE AUTHORS ► Prof. Dr. Volker Großkopf is a legal scholar and professor at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences NRW. He is also the editor of the legal journal for the healthcare sector. ► Dr. Alexander Risse is an internist, angiologist, and diabetologist. From 2007 until his retirement in 2021, he headed the Diabetes Center at Dortmund Hospital, which achieved top rankings several times under his leadership. In 2014, he was awarded the Hellmut Otto Medal by the German Diabetes Association (DDG), and since 2026 he has been an honorary member. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ARTICLES ON RECHTSDEPESCHE https://www.rechtsdepesche.de/rentend... #Pension #RetirementAt70 #CologneCareTalk #Rechtsdepesche #Care #WorkingWorld #Healthcare