Diakonie wants fundamental reform of care financing

Instead of a flat-rate cap on care costs for nursing home residents, Diakonie Sachsen is advocating a fundamental reform of care financing. This should create security for residents of inpatient facilities and for people in outpatient care, said Dietrich Bauer, Chairman of the Board of Diakonie Sachsen, according to a press release.

Viola Andrä, Head of Elderly Care, added that long-term care insurance is needed that no longer passes on cost increases to those in need of care. "This includes a nationwide standardized, dynamic personal contribution and a statutory limit - comparable to a partially comprehensive insurance."

Warning of funding gap through capping

Capping care costs for nursing home residents, which Social Affairs Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) had spoken out in favour of, would not solve the structural problem, according to Bauer.

Diaconia also warns of a funding gap that could arise as a result of the flat-rate cap. Andrä said that it must be clarified how the long-term care insurance could cover these additional costs. "The health insurance funds are already at their limit."

Köpping wants to limit personal contribution to 1,000 euros

In Saxony, care home residents would have to pay an average of 2,800 euros per month in the first year. However, the average pension in Saxony is only just over 1,400 euros, Köpping told the "Sächsische Zeitung" and the "Leipziger Volkszeitung". "People in need of care cannot afford that." The Minister of Social Affairs called for the personal contribution to be limited to 1,000 euros.

Federal and state commission to present proposals

The demands came against the backdrop of a federal and state commission that is to present proposals on the future of long-term care insurance in Germany by the end of the year. The commission was set up in July of this year. Without far-reaching reforms, the Federal Audit Office fears a funding gap of more than twelve billion euros by 2029.