In light of the continuing rise in out‑of‑pocket payments that nursing‑home residents must make, Katrin Staffler, the federal government’s delegate for nursing care, has called on both the federal government and the individual states to increase their cost‑sharing for care facilities.
Staffler told Bild’s Sunday edition that the states should shoulder a greater share of the investment costs required for nursing homes. “It would be desirable for the states to participate more fully – for example, by covering the investment costs” she said. If this were implemented, the portion that patients would have to pay could be lowered, because at present nursing‑home patients in residential care cover the majority of expenses such as renovations.
She also added that the federal government could help ease the burden by covering the training costs for nursing staff – just as medical training is paid for with tax money. If this were done, “people who need care could be significantly relieved”.
Christos Pantazis, the health‑policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, likewise urges the states to take on more responsibility. Pantazis was quoted in Bild as saying: “We expect the states to cover their investment costs entirely and reliably”.
