There is currently intense debate in Germany regarding a reform of long-term care insurance, with a primary focus on narrowing the funding gap. Financial challenges are already significant, and deficits are projected to rise sharply in the coming years. However, the draft legislation presented by the Federal Ministry of Health entails serious cutbacks that will particularly affect family caregivers. For instance, the pension insurance contributions that the long-term care insurance system pays on behalf of family caregivers are set to be reduced. This increases the risk of old-age poverty, especially for women, as the majority of care work in Germany is performed by women who often curtail their own professional careers to do so.
Other cuts to benefits will mean that respite care can only be accessed at a later stage and that certain support services, which have been established in recent years, will disappear.
The German Alzheimer Society - the Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft (DAlzG), together with many other associations, is advocating for amendments to the draft legislation and the withdrawal of many of the planned measures. While it is true that changes are necessary to ensure the long-term financial stability of long-term care insurance in Germany, there are various other options available; in the view of the DAlzG. Shifting the burden solely onto those in need of care and their relatives is unfair, they stress, particularly as around 86% of care in Germany is provided by informal carers. There is strong opposition to the draft bill. The DAlzG hopes the government will back down.
