Rising Nursing Care Costs in Germany Demand Urgent Systemic Reforms, Warns Diakonie Leader

The Diakonie in Lower Saxony is sounding the alarm over the rising unaffordability of nursing care in Germany, calling for substantial reforms to protect vulnerable populations. Hans-Joachim Lenke, spokesperson for the organization, highlighted that many nursing care recipients face spiraling personal costs due to insufficient insurance coverage and increasing wages in the sector.

Lenke criticized the current nursing care insurance system for failing to prevent poverty among those requiring care, stating it was originally designed to do so but has seen only minor adjustments over recent years. He proposed adopting a "base-top exchange" model, where recipients pay a fixed amount and the insurance covers costs above that threshold.

According to Lenke, rising wages—acknowledged as necessary and fair—have driven up service expenses, passing higher personal contributions onto care recipients. This has led to a significant increase in social assistance dependency; projections suggest up to 36% of nursing home residents may need to apply for social support this year.

The Diakonie also advocates expanding the revenue base for nursing care contributions to include income from capital gains and rents, despite anticipated political challenges. Lenke strongly opposed proposed reductions to nursing care levels, especially the elimination of nursing level 1, which plays a vital role in prevention and enables people to live longer independently at home.

These warnings underscore the financial and social sustainability challenges facing Germany's nursing care system amid demographic shifts and cost pressures. The Diakonie’s call for comprehensive reforms aims to make nursing care accessible and affordable while preserving quality and dignity for care recipients.