The proposed reduction of subsidies for nursing home residents, put forward by Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU), is expected to significantly increase the financial burden on most affected individuals. According to preliminary calculations published by the Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services (BPA), the plan would raise the out-of-pocket expense for residents by up to €1,800 over the initial two years of care, based on national averages. This two-year period was selected because three-quarters of all people receiving residential care do not live in nursing homes.
Warken plans to modify the current system of staggered subsidies-which are designed to lower residents’ personal contributions based on the length of their stay-by allowing these subsidies to increase more gradually than before. This proposal drew sharp criticism from BPA President Bernd Meurer, who noted that both the care-dependent individuals and their families already struggle with existing high self-contributions.
Meurer questioned Minister Warken’s sincerity, stating that she had repeatedly promised to provide relief through the reform. He pointed out that the opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD) had campaigned on a promise of a €1,000 cap. He criticized the minister’s current plan as imposing a massive financial burden on vulnerable people and their families, declaring, “This borders on misleading voters: relief promised, burden delivered”.
