North Rhine‑Westphalia’s Health Minister Karl‑Josef Laumann (CDU) called for a fundamental overhaul of the nursing care system. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” on Friday, he praised the social care insurance as a success model but warned that the current arrangement can’t stay as it is. “We need a complete systemic change in nursing care” he said.
Laumann said the five existing care grades would remain, but the criteria and structure of those grades should be reviewed. “If there are perverse incentives, we will eliminate them” he added. He also stressed the importance of strengthening prevention to reduce the number of people who become care‑dependent.
The SPD has proposed capping residents’ out‑of‑pocket costs in nursing homes; Laumann rejected that idea. He pointed out that the social care insurance exists to cover care costs, not accommodation or meals. “The SPD cannot mislead people” he said. “A cap would actually relieve those who can afford the share, but it would force everyone, including low‑income residents, to shoulder higher contributions or taxes. Is that socially fair?”
Laumann highlighted that many residents can afford the costs of a nursing home. “Two thirds of people living in a nursing home receive no financial support from the municipalities” he noted. “Thus, most combine their statutory pension with other income or savings to cover the out‑of‑pocket payments”.
