Kaufbeuren nursing home: a win despite renovations and a lack of staff!

Kaufbeuren nursing home: a win despite renovations and a lack of staff!

The care situation in Germany is a challenge that is becoming increasingly urgent. An example of this is the Kaufbeuren Hospital Foundation nursing home, which made a profit in 2024 despite renovations and a significant loss of beds. Yesterday, home manager Wolfgang Scupin and commercial manager Elena Harder presented the annual report to the city council. The report shows that the facility recently had to adjust its supply contract from 190 to 180 places, which is a challenge because despite renovations and deaths, occupancy was at an impressive 96 percent, something you don't see every day. On an annual average, 173 residents lived in the house, and the facility was still able to offer up to 15 short-term care places. This is, if you will, a good hand for difficult times.

The construction sites inside the facility have led to high expenses, but the regulated care rate negotiations, which came into force retroactively to January 1, 2024, have contributed to stability. In this context, it should be emphasized that operating income rose by four percent, while other income fell by 33 percent. The balance sheet total increased by 2.5 million euros to a total of 17.65 million euros, which was made possible by funding. A promising result that secures the institution's liquidity for the challenges ahead.

Renovation and expansion of the nursing home

The challenge will become even greater in the future, as the construction of the hospital foundation's new building is almost complete. The shell construction is being intensively pursued in order to complete everything in time for winter. The roof waterproofing of the new building has largely been completed and work on the external walls is progressing quickly. Hard work is also going on inside the building, with progress being made on the basement ceiling and the creation of an on-site laundry facility. Overall, it appears that the construction work is well on schedule, which is positive news for the future capacity of the nursing home, which has existed since 1965 and has continued to develop over the years.

The Hospital Foundation, one of the oldest institutions in Kaufbeuren, has been committed to the well-being of people since its founding in the early Middle Ages. Originally intended for the construction and maintenance of a hospital, it is now active with social facilities such as old people's and nursing homes as well as senior-friendly residential complexes. The renovation and new construction are being carried out with funding from the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care, an important step in adapting the facility to modern requirements.

The race for skilled nursing staff

The questions about the sufficient number of nursing staff are hard to ignore. According to forecasts by the Federal Statistical Office, there could be a shortage of up to 350,000 nursing staff in Germany by 2034. Even in the best scenario there would be up to 90,000 skilled workers. A circumstance that not only affects hospitals, but also institutions such as the Hospital Foundation. The challenge lies not only in recruiting but also in retaining employees, especially during the construction phase, which can lead to longer absences. Personnel costs have increased by five percent, which is primarily due to the wage increase in March 2024.

The care situation remains tense, and the hospital foundation is well advised to continue to do everything it can to ensure care for the residents. The competition for skilled workers is increasing, and the institution must find creative solutions to successfully manage the change that is just around the corner.