More and more residents in nursing homes can no longer afford their share of expenses and are becoming dependent on social assistance.
According to an unpublished DAK study reported by the “Rheinische Post” on Thursday, the proportion of residents receiving social assistance- the so‑called “social assistance quota” – is set to hit a new record of 37 % by 2026. Under current law the rate will rise to 40.4 % in 2032 and continue climbing, reaching almost 43 % in 2035.
Presently, 309 000 residents nationwide receive what the municipalities call “care assistance”. The study projects that, within the next nine years, that number could grow by 15 % to about 356 000 individuals. The research was carried out by Hamburg‑based health economist Heinz Rothgang on DAK’s behalf.
DAK board chairman Andreas Storm warned that inpatient care is becoming an ever‑stronger trap of poverty. “With the current 37 % social‑assistance quotient we are at the limit, and any further increase must be prevented” he told the editors. “Confidence in the social‑care insurance is waning, and a care collapse looms”. Storm called for a caps on residents’ own contributions in nursing homes as part of a comprehensive reform. He argued for a new financing mix that would fairly distribute costs among payers, the care‑seeking population and taxpayers.
If the nursing‑home contribution could be capped at a maximum of €1,000 to €1,200 per month, the study says the social‑assistance quota would still fall between 32 % and 37 % by 2035, easing the pressure on residents.
