The German Association for Elderly and Disabled Care (VDAB) has criticized the ongoing debate about increasing care contributions. According to Thomas Knieling, the VDAB’s federal management director, the care sector urgently needs a clear and long-term strategy rather than being caught up in piecemeal discussions during the reform of social care.
Knieling told reporters from the Funke Media Group that isolated discussions, such as potential higher fees for childless individuals or cuts to subsidies for institutional accommodation, cannot replace a sustainable reform strategy. He stressed that a cohesive framework for the future of the health care insurance and overall care provision remains missing.
In the context of the care reform championed by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU), reports suggest that the care contribution for people without children could increase by 0.1 percentage points, reaching 0.7 percent. Addressing the challenges, Knieling noted, “It is becoming increasingly difficult for many institutions to maintain service quality, both in staffing and economically. At the same time, the burdens placed on those needing care and social service providers are continuously rising”.
Consequently, Knieling argues that decisive reform steps are necessary. These steps must include modernizing rigid care structures, dismantling bureaucratic hurdles, and granting care facilities greater flexibility and entrepreneurial scope.