Care security in focus: challenges and solutions for the future

Care security in focus: challenges and solutions for the future

Securing long-term care is a central social issue that presents society with major challenges. In view of demographic changes and the increasing number of people in need of care, the discussion about appropriate solutions is extremely urgent. The union has been working intensively on this issue for over 25 years. Discussions about care continued in 2007 after the first approaches to the problem had been formulated more than 25 years earlier. This comprehensive discussion illustrates how important the development of a fair and sustainable care solution is. This represents one piece of a larger puzzle that includes different social issues that need to be addressed in the coming years. SWZ reports that the need to improve the care situation can no longer be ignored these days.

The challenges in the area of ​​care are complex. According to information from the Bertelsmann Foundation, poverty in old age is expected to increase by 2036, which will primarily affect those in need of care. The job market for nursing staff is increasingly the focus of discussions. In her book, Dieter Bogai addresses the challenges facing the nursing profession within the welfare state. The Federal Employment Agency also reports on the current labor market situation, with the figures being collected up to May 2021.

Financing and payment in care

Another central aspect is the financial situation in long-term care insurance. The Federal Ministry of Health's financial and administrative report from 2022 refers to developments that should enable collectively agreed payment in geriatric care with salary increases of up to 30 percent. These measures are necessary to make the profession more attractive and to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in nursing. The data from Carstensen et al. (2018) shed light on nurses' wages and underscore the urgency of these reforms. According to the 2020 Nursing Report, the realignment of care and financing is seen as crucial for the future of nursing.

A comprehensive analysis of the need for inpatient and outpatient nursing staff by 2035 by Radtke shows the increasing need to recruit qualified staff. This challenge is further compounded by demographic changes. According to estimates, the number of people in need of care will increase sharply, which could also pose further problems for long-term care insurance. The Federal Agency for Civic Education describes the current problems of long-term care insurance and provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges that will have to be overcome in the future.