Brandenburg Caregiver Wage Increase Spurs Higher Nursing Home Costs
Caregiver wages in Brandenburg have risen, pushing nursing home costs for residents up by about €100 monthly, despite subsidies easing some of the burden.
- • Average hourly wages for caregivers in Brandenburg increased from €21.43 to €23.13.
- • Brandenburg ranks low nationally despite wage increases, with only a few states paying less.
- • Residents’ out-of-pocket nursing home costs are expected to rise by around €100 monthly due to wage hikes.
- • About €30 of the increased cost is offset by subsidies from care funds, depending on the duration of stay.
Key details
In Brandenburg, caregiver wages have seen a significant rise, with the average hourly wage increasing from €21.43 to €23.13 over the past year, according to data from the statutory health insurers and care funds (GKV). Despite this improvement, Brandenburg remains among the German states with the lowest caregiver wages, surpassed only by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hessen, and Thüringen. The national average caregiver wage has grown by 4.9% to €23.70 per hour, with Hamburg offering the highest average at €24.55 per hour.
However, this wage increase is expected to have a direct impact on residents of nursing homes, leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses. The GKV estimates that residents’ costs will rise by approximately €100 per month due to increased personnel expenses, with about €30 of this amount softened by subsidies from care funds dependent on the length of stay. This is compounded by the requirement since 2022 that care contracts must be linked to collective wage agreements or similar standards, which raises personnel costs further.
Besides personnel expenses, residents also bear costs related to accommodation, meals, facility investments, and staff training, highlighting the complexities behind nursing home fees. Oliver Blatt, head of the GKV, highlighted the balance between fair pay for caregivers and the resulting financial pressure on residents.
These developments underscore the challenges in balancing fair caregiver compensation with the affordability of care home services for residents in Brandenburg and across Germany.