Nursing homes face mounting financial pressure, prompting elders' union to advocate for lasting reform to ensure their sustainability.
Rising Nursing Home Costs Pose Threat to Public Care in Germany
Germany is currently grappling with a sharp increase in nursing home costs, averaging €3,248 per month, a figure that far exceeds typical pension incomes of around €1,100, creating affordability issues for residents, citizens, and municipalities.
The Senior Union, an advocacy group for the elderly, has expressed concern about these rising costs and urged the SPD-led state government to provide reliability and security for people in old age. The union has emphasized that the question of whether nursing homes can charge additional costs like investment costs and training costs for caregivers needs to be addressed.
To alleviate these burdens, Health Minister Wark has called for urgent reforms of the long-term care insurance system, which currently covers only part of the costs through a mandatory 3.6% income contribution shared by employers and employees. However, this leaves many residents reliant on welfare.
The key measures and proposals in Germany to address this issue include reforming long-term care insurance to better bridge the gap between rising nursing care expenses and residents' incomes, government and health ministry initiatives aimed at improving quality and efficiency in healthcare and care provision, and navigating social welfare budgeting challenges.
The situation remains politically sensitive, with planned discussions ongoing and a push for faster action due to escalating deficits in statutory health insurance funding. The new Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warken, faces one of the "most difficult tasks" due to insufficient consideration of demographic development by previous governments.
In the Saarland, the Senior Union has called for the creation of a state nursing plan with clear, reliable contents. The Saarland is reportedly among the federal states with the highest financial burdens for nursing home residents. Manfred Maurer, the state chairman of the Senior Union, has emphasized the need for a fundamental reform of pension insurance after almost 30 years.
The Senior Union demands a sustainable concept from the federal and state governments to significantly reduce the burden on citizens and municipal carriers. They believe that in an aging society, measures to ensure affordable care are indispensable.
References:
- Deutsche Welle
- Bundesministerium für Gesundheit
- Reuters
- Despite rising nursing home costs in Germany, typical pension income remains low, prompting concerns about affordability for both residents and municipalities.
- The Senior Union has advocated for government action to resolve this issue, questioning the ability of nursing homes to charge additional costs like investments and caregiver training.
- Health Minister Wark is pushing for reforms of the long-term care insurance system to bridge the gap between nursing costs and resident income.
- The current system, with a 3.6% income contribution from employers and employees, only covers part of the costs, leaving many residents reliant on welfare.
- Proposed solutions include improvements to the long-term care insurance system, efficiency enhancements in healthcare and care provision, and increased scrutiny of social welfare budgeting.
- As the political discussions progress, the need for faster action is emphasized due to deficits in statutory health insurance funding.
- The new Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warken, faces significant challenges in addressing the long-standing issue of insufficient consideration of demographic development.
- In Saarland, the Senior Union has called for the development of a state nursing plan with clear, reliable contents.
- The Saarland reportedly faces some of the highest financial burdens for nursing home residents among the federal states.
- The Senior Union is urging for a fundamental reform of pension insurance after nearly 30 years and calls for a sustainable concept from both federal and state governments.
- In an aging society, the union stresses the importance of measures to ensure affordable care and address the burden on citizens and municipalities.
- Aging presents various challenges such as skin care, fitness, and men's health that demand attention and adequate resources.
- To improve personal health and wellness, many turn to fitness and exercise, nutritious food choices, and therapies and treatments like meditation and acupuncture.
- Aging also impacts other aspects of daily life, including finance, relationships, personal development, travel, career, and hobbies, such as gardening, technology, sports, sports betting, basketball, weather, education, shopping, and home decoration.
