Katrin Staffler, the federal government’s nursing care commissioner, said that the rising share of costs that residents must cover to enter a nursing home places an unfair burden on both the states and federal finance minister Lars Klingbeil. “The out‑of‑pocket shares in full‑time residential nursing care are increasing – this can’t continue as it is” she told “Stern”.
Staffler warned that many elderly individuals can no longer afford the escalating payments on their own. “The states must therefore find ways to shoulder far more of the investment costs, and the federal finance minister must look for measures, for example to cover training costs for nursing professionals with tax money” she said. “Distributing the burden of these out‑of‑pocket contributions more broadly would be fair and socially acceptable” the CSU politician added.
The comments come amid a recent analysis by the Association of Replacement Funds, which shows that in the first year after admission, the average German resident pays €3,245 a month out of pocket. That figure is €137 higher than the amount paid on 1 July 2025 and €261 more than at the beginning of the previous year.
