Insufficient pensions leave many Thuringians unable to afford nursing home care.
Rising Costs of Nursing Care in Thuringia Spark Reform Calls
In an aging society, the demand for care facilities and care staff is growing, and this trend is particularly evident in Thuringia, Germany. This has led to a significant increase in self-payment for nursing home places, with monthly fees surpassing 3,000 euros in the first year.
However, the nursing care insurance only covers a limited part of the costs, leaving many pensioners to shoulder a large portion of the expenses. This situation has sparked calls for comprehensive reforms, with social associations such as AWO Thuringia and VdK Hessen-Thuringia demanding a citizens' insurance that covers the entire cost of nursing care.
Of the 594,000 Thuringian pensioners, around 60,000 live in nursing homes. The Paritätischer Welfare Association Thuringia has gone a step further, calling for the abolition of self-payments in the long term and a shift towards a solidarity care full insurance.
The average monthly cost for a place in an AWO nursing home is approximately 2,700 euros, a figure that underscores the financial burden on pensioners. In response, the social welfare office steps in to cover the costs if the income is below the limit and the parents do not have sufficient financial means.
Unfortunately, there is a shortage of care workers throughout Thuringia, leading some homes to turn people away. This shortage is a concern that extends beyond Thuringia, with similar issues being reported in neighbouring Saxony-Anhalt, where most of those in need of care are already being cared for by relatives.
As a self-employed person, you are responsible for your own coverage in the nursing care insurance. Certain peculiarities apply to the self-employed, such as the ability to set the contribution rate and the contribution assessment limit.
In an effort to address the financial sustainability of the long-term care insurance system, which is under pressure from increasing care costs, especially nursing home care for pensioners, a commission led by German Health Minister Nina Warken has started working on proposals to stabilize the long-term care insurance system nationally.
While specific proposals tailored exclusively for Thuringia have not been publicly detailed, the federal reform initiative includes measures likely to affect all states, focusing on stabilizing insurance funding and possibly adjusting benefit structures or funding mechanisms to meet rising demand and cost pressures.
The reforms may include approaches such as increased contributions, revisiting benefit payouts, or improved efficiency in care service delivery, although these details are yet to be finalized or published.
In addition, the state must also take over the costs for the training of nurses, which would result in a further relief of more than 100 euros per month. There is good news on this front, with an increase in trainees in the care sector.
As of July 2025, Thuringia, Germany, is part of broader federal efforts to reform long-term nursing care insurance due to rising nursing home costs for pensioners. These reforms are motivated by the rising costs of nursing home care for pensioners and seek to stabilize the insurance system that funds such care.
- The growing demand for care facilities in an aging society has led to a surge in self-payment for nursing home places.
- Monthly fees for nursing home places in Thuringia exceed 3,000 euros in the first year.
- The nursing care insurance only covers a limited part of the costs, leaving many pensioners with significant expenses.
- Social associations like AWO Thuringia and VdK Hessen-Thuringia have called for a citizens' insurance that covers the entire cost of nursing care.
- About 60,000 Thuringian pensioners live in nursing homes.
- The Paritätischer Welfare Association Thuringia has advocated for the abolition of self-payments in the long term.
- The average monthly cost for a place in an AWO nursing home is approximately 2,700 euros.
- The shortage of care workers in Thuringia is a significant concern, with some homes turning people away.
- Similar issues with care worker shortages are being reported in neighboring Saxony-Anhalt.
- Self-employed individuals are responsible for their own coverage in the nursing care insurance.
- Certain peculiarities apply to the self-employed in the nursing care insurance, such as the ability to set contribution rates.
- The long-term care insurance system is under pressure from increasing care costs, particularly nursing home care for pensioners.
- A commission led by German Health Minister Nina Warken is working on proposals to stabilize the long-term care insurance system.
- The federal reform initiative includes measures likely to affect all states, focusing on stabilizing insurance funding.
- The reforms may include increased contributions, revisiting benefit payouts, or improved efficiency in care service delivery.
- The state must also take over the costs for the training of nurses, providing further relief of over 100 euros per month.
- An increase in trainees in the care sector is good news on this front.
- Thuringia is part of broader federal efforts to reform long-term nursing care insurance due to rising nursing home costs for pensioners.
- The reforms are motivated by the rising costs of nursing home care for pensioners and seek to stabilize the insurance system that funds such care.
- These reforms are not only about nursing care but also extend to other areas of health-and-wellness, such as fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and eye-health.
- Chronic-diseases, including cardiovascular-health issues and cancer, are significant concerns in mens-health and women's-health.
- Respiratory-conditions and digestive-health are vital areas of focus, as are skin-care and hearing.
- In the realm of medical-conditions, neurological-disorders, autoimmune-disorders, and diabetes are prevalent, requiring various therapies-and-treatments.
