Future of care: EXPO Living & Care sounds the alarm for reforms!

Future of care: EXPO Living & Care sounds the alarm for reforms!

Yesterday the EXPO Living & Care opened its doors in Berlin. Moderated by Steve Schrader and Mathias Ehbrecht, the focus was on the challenges and future of nursing. During the event, the Federal Ministry of Health identified a clear need for action, particularly with regard to the financing of long-term care insurance. Martin Schölkopf from the ministry emphasized that initially only 500 million euros are available as a loan, which of course does not take into account the required 5 billion euros in repayment of the Corona aid. Nursing home reports that the federal government's new care representative, Katrin Staffler, brought personal experience of the need for care and sees her role as giving those in need of care and their families a voice.

Nadine-Michèle Szepan from the AOK Federal Association highlighted the dramatic imbalance of contributors per person in need of care. While there were 34 in 1995, today there are only 11. Under these circumstances, the hope of full insurance in nursing care is unrealistic. There was agreement that reducing bureaucracy and digitalization are crucial issues that need to be addressed. In particular, strengthening municipalities in care planning was considered important.

The path to reform

The discussion about future reforms shows clear ambitions. The planned laws on nursing competence and nursing assistance are to be passed by the cabinet in August this year in order to speed up remuneration negotiations. However, Thomas Knieling, VDAB federal managing director, expressed concerns about the measures as to whether they would be enough to solve the problems with the payers. Bernhard Schneider, general manager of the Evangelical Home Foundation, also called for more binding regulations in view of the lengthy legal disputes over remuneration.

But not only legal questions are on the agenda. Innovative concepts also need to be implemented more quickly. Kaspar Pfister, founder of the BeneVit Group, complained about the slow implementation of future-oriented models such as the “outpatient model”. Such new approaches could help to increase the attractiveness of the nursing profession and improve the quality of care.

Outlook for the future

It is important to set the right course for the future of care. The Eighth Nursing Report, published by the Federal Ministry of Health, not only addresses the challenges such as the acute shortage of staff and the increasing number of people in need of care, but also the progress that has been made in recent years. Further progress must be made regarding working conditions in nursing. Bibliomed care highlights that recommendations on nursing recruitment, better pay, technological support and digital solutions are essential.

Another central issue is the financial sustainability of long-term care insurance. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians provides information on how nursing care insurance can be made more efficient in the future in order to take demographic developments into account. Funding is available until 2030 to advance digitalization and improve working conditions in care facilities. GKV reports that these measures are also intended to strengthen the compatibility of care, family and work.

The EXPO Living & Care thus brought politics and practice together. A rethink in care is necessary and is sought with a joint effort by everyone involved. The aim is to sustainably improve not only the quality of care, but also the general conditions for nursing staff. We can look forward to seeing what concrete results these discussions will produce in the future.