Care in transition: parishes give responsibility for old people's homes!

Care in transition: parishes give responsibility for old people's homes!

The landscape of old people's and nursing homes in the diocese of Münster is currently undergoing profound change. More and more parishes are giving up sponsorship of these important institutions and handing them over to larger sponsors. This not only represents a significant change in ownership, but also reflects the challenges facing the healthcare system Church and life reported.

A central problem that is based on all of these changes is the acute shortage of skilled workers in nursing. According to current information, there is little hope of improvement. The annual increase in those in need of care in Germany ensures that the demand for care benefits continuously increases. It is estimated that the number of people in need of care will increase to around six million by 2040, which will further tighten the situation for both the institutions and for the employees, so Germany radio.

Increasing requirements for care facilities

In the course of the changes, especially due to the North Rhine-Westphalian residential and participation law of 2014, many old people's homes have to be extensively renovated. The parishes, which were previously responsible for the non -profit institutions, can often no longer meet these increased requirements. Instead, many choose to hand over the sponsorship to larger facilities that have the necessary resources. This is not only a financial, but also an organizational problem that affects many communities.

The figures from the Federal Employment Agency show that geriatric care in Germany is affected by a personnel shortage. In 2024, there was a reported shortage of over 191,000 nursing staff, which represents an enormous challenge for everyone involved. There are already 115,000 vacant positions in geriatric care, and the German Nursing Council estimates a shortage of around 500,000 nursing staff by 2034 Statistics employment agency shows.

Future prospects of geriatric care

So what happens next? Experts are calling for far-reaching reforms to ensure the quality of care and combat the shortage of staff. One suggestion would be better training and pay for nursing staff as well as more flexible working time models. Innovative concepts such as the Dutch care model “Buurtzorg”, which relies on self-organization, could also be the key to more efficient care.

Another idea is the introduction of a care allowance for relatives who maintain - that could alleviate the stress that many families wear. Technological solutions such as smart applications to support care or social robots that are supposed to promote communication with those in need of care are becoming increasingly popular. The social robot "Willi" from Berlin, financed by private donations, shows how important new approaches can become if the traditional structures are no longer sufficient.

One thing is certain that the plans are honestly a challenge, but also an exciting opportunity to make old people's care in Germany future -proof. It is to be hoped that the upcoming reforms and measures will lead to a significant improvement in the situation.