Ilka Roggmann-Mäckel, a Senior Citizen Assistant from Germany

Ilka is a Senior Citizen Assistant. She has been working as an employee for 30 years. Suffering enormous stress due to her borderline syndrome, she finds it very difficult to be in contact with many people at the same time. For the last 10 years, she has worked in a senior citizens’ home, a job that has given her great personal satisfaction through contact with clients, although sometimes communication with colleagues posed a problem to her. Finally, she decided to work independently as she has always wanted to and just did not have the courage to try prior.

While unemployed, Ms. Roggmann has been receiving support from “Enterability” (a former integration service for self-employment) – 900 Euros for the first few months, and 300 euros until April 2022. Her membership in the “Bundesvereinigung der Senioren-Assistenten Deutschland e.V.” also helped her not to feel alone and to participate in various workshops. Her son and husband have also been very supportive. 

After becoming self-employed, Ms. Roggmann had the opportunity not to have to work with many people anymore. She reported that the feeling she gets from helping people is very satisfactory and increases her self-esteem as well.

Since then, she has developed more self-confidence. A few years ago, she would not have been able to talk openly about herself, her path and her disability. Now, she finds it extremely important to speak openly about it, so that society becomes more sensitive and accepting of people like her.