Number of people in need of care has more than doubled

The number of people in need of care in Saxony is growing rapidly. Within ten years, their number has more than doubled. This is according to an answer from the Ministry of Social Affairs to a minor question from Susanne Schaper (Die Linke) in the state parliament. According to the answer, exactly 149,461 people received benefits from long-term care insurance in 2013, ten years later it was 363,243. That is an increase of 143 percent.

Recognition for the silent care work

"Every year, tens of thousands of people in need of care are added in Saxony alone," Schaper clarified. A trend reversal is not foreseeable. "It is a huge task to enable everyone to age with dignity. Everyone who provides voluntary or full-time care in our country deserves recognition and relief."

Relatives are by far the largest care service, emphasized Schaper. "They deserve much more support and should be able to take time off work with the right to return to work, as is the case with maternity leave. They should receive compensation and have their care periods taken into account. We also want to expand offers for advice, further training and health promotion and simplify processes."

Gap between demand and headcount continues to widen

Schaper had also asked the government for figures on personnel in a minor question in parliament. "The gap between requirements and staffing levels is widening," concluded the head of the Left Party parliamentary group. There has also been an increase in personnel. In 2015, the sector had around 83,000 care workers, by 2023 this figure had risen to 98,700. At the same time, the number of vacancies also grew during this period - from 27,444 to 39,492.

In 2015, there were 0.49 employees subject to social insurance contributions with a care profession for every recipient of care insurance benefits. In 2023, there were only 0.27 employees. Schaper also sees the figures as proof of how important attractive working conditions are in order to avoid overwork. "A Saxon care representative should take care of upgrading the profession in future."

Number of social cases on the rise

The people in need of care themselves also need more support, said Schaper. With personal contributions of up to 3,000 euros per month for a place in a home, even two good pensions are no longer enough. "This means that many people become social cases after a long working life." Almost 22,000 people in Saxony would have needed the social benefit "help with care" in 2023.

Saxony should lobby the federal government for a cap on co-payments

"The co-payments would fall if the Free State were to cover the investment and training costs of care home operators in the form of a care home allowance. Saxony should lobby the federal government for a cap on co-payments," emphasized Schaper. Her party is also proposing a state care allowance for free disposal, based on the Bavarian model, in order to preserve at least some financial self-determination for older people.

"Good care is affordable if we convert care insurance into full insurance," concluded Schaper. Everyone who earns an income should pay fairly into the statutory long-term care insurance funds.