The federal government plans to implement a reform of long-term care insurance before autumn. However, Hans-Jürgen Wilhelm, CEO of the Hamburger Stiftung Altenhof, warns in the newspaper “Spiegel” that the currently known proposals completely fail to address the challenges faced in daily care.
Wilhelm argues that the draft legislation does not even deserve the name “reform”; rather, it is a restrictive measure that will only intensify panic and chaos within the system. He states that the German care system is “trapped in safety concerns.” This approach, he points out, drives up costs and, crucially, leaves little room for quality of life in institutional care.
He cites a specific example where a resident desiring a simple portion of fried eggs might be denied due to Salmonella risks. The result, he claims, is that relatives and care funds expend enormous sums of money while frequently creating situations that have little to do with an individual’s quality of life.
Instead, Wilhelm suggests that there must be a dismantling of the rigid divisions between outpatient and inpatient care. This strict separation prevents the development of “intermediate forms” that could grant people greater freedom while simultaneously helping care funds save money. A system such as this would open up possibilities for alternative living arrangements in care settings.
Wilhelm emphasizes that many people would be better off in care villages, dementia communities, or small groups on a farm. He envisions a village setting where older people live together, and someone is responsible for looking after them-“that is far more human-centered.”
“Hans-Jürgen Wilhelm is the CEO of the Stiftung Altenhof. His organization includes a care home for 118 residents, a care service, and apartments for assisted living.”
