A recent assessment by the Iges Institute, commissioned by the Federal Government’s Nursing Commissioner, has identified significant shortcomings in municipal nursing planning across Germany. The report, revealed by the Mediengruppe Bayern, highlights a lack of coordination between districts and regions, noting that only half of the planning documents currently address this crucial link.
The assessment emphasizes that improved networking amongst stakeholders is not only a challenge but increasingly vital given dwindling personnel resources, if adequate care provision is to be ensured. Concerns are also raised about the apparent lack of tangible outcomes from the planning process. The report finds that few plans contain specific measures to develop and adapt, nursing care structures to meet evolving needs. There’s a prevailing impression that current planning is simply carried out to fulfill legal obligations, with municipalities stopping short of drawing concrete conclusions or outlining future actions.
Furthermore, the focus predominantly on the sheer number of individuals requiring nursing care is deemed inadequate. The report points out that projections often fail to account for the resulting demand for places in care facilities or the necessary staffing levels, both in residential and outpatient settings.
Katrin Staffler, the Federal Government’s Nursing Commissioner, underscored the need for a more comprehensive approach. She advocates for integrated social planning within municipalities, extending beyond purely structural considerations to encompass elements such as family-friendly environments, age-appropriate infrastructure, accessible transportation, healthcare access, recreational opportunities, social engagement, cultural offerings and educational resources.
Staffler also stressed the importance of addressing the care needs of younger individuals requiring assistance. She is pushing for legally binding municipal needs assessments, viewing them as a prerequisite for care agreements and investment funding – a departure from the current practice in nursing insurance, which differs from the approach taken in the healthcare sector.
The assessment also identified data scarcity as a significant obstacle. Municipalities require access to crucial data on existing care provision from health and nursing insurance funds, a step already initiated by Minister Nina Warken through the draft Nursing Competence Act.
