Germany: there is a shortage of caregivers for the elderly. The number of people in need has “exploded”

For years, thousands of caregivers for the elderly have been going to Germany from Poland, Ukraine and Moldova. However, there are still too few of them, because the number of people in need of support is still growing. According to German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, the number of people requiring care in Germany increased much more last year than expected.

The number of older people needing help has exploded

– Demographic data showed that there will be approximately 50,000 such people in 2023. But in fact, there were over 360,000 of them, said the SPD politician in an interview with RND journalists, quoted by Deutsche Welle. – We do not yet understand exactly why this happened – he said. According to him, there is a “serious problem” in the area of ​​care insurance.

The Minister of Health believes that this is a sandwich effect. – The elderly who require care are joined by the first children of the baby boom who now also need care. So for the first time we have two generations that need care at the same time: baby boomers and their parents, he explained.

According to previous forecasts, the number of people requiring care in Germany will increase from around five million today to six million within 15 years. Due to demographic trends, the increase in the number of people needing care can vary significantly from one region to another, especially in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. According to preliminary calculations of the Federal Statistical Office from February this year. nationwide, by 2049 there will be a shortage of 280,000 to 690,000 caregivers.

There will be no more reform

However, there is no quick solution in sight. According to Lauterbach, achieving comprehensive financial reform in the care sector is unlikely to be achieved during this term. He admits that there is an inter-ministerial working group working on it, but “there is little chance that it will agree on the recommendations.” – The views of various ministries and coalition partners on this are too different – ​​he explains. According to him, possible solutions would be neutrally and honestly compared by the working group and would become a good basis for a serious reform in the next term. – But such a report must first be prepared – emphasizes the minister.

– The great reform of the care service planned for the next term will come much too late, says Bavarian politician and former Minister of Health in the Bavarian government, Klaus Holetschek, and calls for the introduction of a benefit replacing remuneration for family caregivers, similar to parental allowance.

Families have long been considered “Germany's largest care service.” However, many families are emotionally, physically and financially at the end of their rope, the German Patient Protection Foundation warned a few days ago. – In order for the government to provide immediate assistance, the care allowance must be increased immediately and universally by EUR 300, demands Eugen Brysch, president of the foundation's management board.