Prioritizing Depth Over Trivial Tasks is Key

The German government has recently passed two significant pieces of legislation aimed at improving the care sector: the Act on Expanding Powers and Reducing Bureaucracy in Care, formerly known as the Care Competence Act, and the Care Assistant Act. However, these new measures have raised concerns among care policy experts.

According to Simone Fischer, spokesperson for care policy, the new measures represent a step backwards in key areas. One of the main criticisms is the omission of the legal anchoring of care commissioners in the new Care Competence Act. This could potentially weaken the oversight and accountability within the care system.

Another point of contention is the reduction in the promotion of voluntary structures in the new Care Competence Act. Voluntary structures play a crucial role in providing additional support and resources to the care sector, and their diminished support could have a detrimental effect.

Daily relief services are also set to be cut or reduced in the new Care Competence Act. This could put a strain on caregivers and those receiving care, as these services are essential for maintaining a decent quality of life.

The Care Assistant Act, too, has drawn criticism for its lack of binding standards for training and job profiles. This could lead to inconsistencies in the quality of care provided and potentially put those receiving care at risk.

Independent therapeutic activities are to be tested in model projects and only taken over via delegation from care professionals. While this could potentially streamline the care process, concerns have been raised about the potential for care professionals to be overwhelmed by these additional responsibilities.

The Social Care Insurance is on the brink of insolvency, further complicating matters. The budget draft only provides for a loan of 500 million euros in 2025 and 1.5 billion in 2026 to refund the corona additional costs, which is seen as a postponement of the problem rather than a solution.

Moreover, no money has been provided in the budget to introduce a wage replacement benefit for caring relatives, as announced by Federal Family Minister Prien. This lack of funding could exacerbate the strain on caregivers and those receiving care.

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has emphasized the need for saving across ministries due to significant budget gaps and has demanded contributions from all ministers. This indicates tight financial conditions that likely hinder new budget allocations for these announcements.

These developments have sparked a debate about the future of care in Germany, with calls for more investment and support to ensure the quality and sustainability of care services. It remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed in the coming months.