The German Social Association (SoVD) has issued a warning against further austerity debates following the establishment of the new Care Commission. Michaela Engelmeier, the chairwoman of SoVD, told the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday edition) that the association remains optimistic that the commission will generate effective proposals for care reform. However, she strongly cautioned that this reform must not devolve into merely another round of “pure cost-cutting.”
Engelmeier emphasized that the reform must prioritize the needs of those requiring care and their families, ensuring that the changes address the requirements of both home and institutional care, rather than simply targeting expense reduction.
She added that the “crushing pressure to cut costs” at the expense of care recipients must come to an end. She stated that instead of continued debates about reductions, what is needed is a solidary and sustainable reform. This reform, she argued, must involve greater federal engagement in societal responsibilities, establish a fair financial balance between private and statutory long-term care insurance, and offer better support for caregiving relatives.
Crucially, she asserted that care systems must guarantee reliability, strengthen care sustainably, and must never be dependent on an individual’s financial situation-this must serve as the guiding principle for the commission.
