The number of nursing homes in Hameln is falling: crisis threatens senior citizens' care!

The number of nursing homes in Hameln is falling: crisis threatens senior citizens' care!

In the current situation, many nursing homes in Germany are facing serious financial challenges. This is particularly clear in the example of Curanum Weserbergland in Hameln, which recently announced its closure. The operator Argentum filed for bankruptcy at the Bad Homburg district court on April 1st. According to dewezet.de, the pressure on the facilities is enormous, which is also due to the rising costs and the shortage of skilled workers lies.

According to the Nursing Employers Association (AGVP), over 1,200 nursing home insolvencies were registered in 2023 and 2024. This worrying development is reflected in the increasing need to apply for subsidies from the social welfare office, as many citizens can no longer afford their own contribution of an average of 2,984 euros per month. The payment practices of the nursing care funds also cause financial uncertainty, as the facilities often have to be stuck with high amounts. Processing times for applications can sometimes take up to nine months, which further complicates the situation.

Growing problems in the care industry

More and more nursing home operators in Germany are on the brink of the abyss. The best-known bankruptcies include Dorea, Curata and the Hansa Group, as tagesschau.de reports. In addition, it is estimated that up to 37% of nursing homes could be in the red this year, putting their economic viability at massive risk.

The shortage of skilled workers is particularly dramatic; While the need for care is constantly increasing, there are only 1.75 million nursing staff in Germany compared to 5.6 million people in need of care. There is a shortage of more than 100,000 nursing staff, with the number of those in need of care having increased by 150% in the past 25 years.

But it's not just large facilities that are affected; Even smaller homes like the Ursula Lambertz House in Kalterherberg are fighting for survival. The home manager Andreas Nowack reports that his house was only able to fill 17 of 38 places, even though there is a long waiting list. In order to secure the economic basis, nursing homes must be 98% occupied on average, which is becoming increasingly difficult in the current situation.

Alternatives to restructuring

The AGVP suggests that social welfare providers could grant long-term cost coverage on a loan basis. These approaches could help institutions survive in an uncertain financial landscape. The remuneration negotiations with the care insurance funds often drag on for months and represent a further obstacle. Representatives of the DAK and AOK emphasize that they are planning personnel measures to improve processing times in order to stabilize the financial basis of the care facilities.

In summary, the challenges in the care industry are immense. With the increasing number of people in need of care and the simultaneous decline in the number of nursing staff, the situation could soon become even more critical. As dgq.de shows, nursing urgently needs reforms and support to secure the future of nursing homes in Germany. It remains to be hoped that decision-makers will take the necessary steps to stabilize and strengthen this important sector in the long term.