Nursing homes in Hameln: closure threatens - financial crisis in healthcare!

Nursing homes in Hameln: closure threatens - financial crisis in healthcare!

In recent years there has been an alarming development in the nursing industry in Germany: more and more facilities are under massive financial pressure. The Center for Care and Care Curanum Weserbergland in Hameln has now announced that it has been closing its doors. This is another worrying sign in an already tense situation that is tightened by rising costs and shortage of skilled workers. Dewezet reports that the life at the park in Hameln is also affected by the bankruptcy of the nursing group Argentum, which was already requested on April 1, 2023.

The situation is not only dramatic. According to the Health Association (AGVP), a whopping 1200 care facilities filed for bankruptcy in 2023/24. The affected locations are noted on a card entitled "Home DISTRIAL Germany". The average proportion of residents in the first year is 2,984 euros, which is a high financial burden. This happens at a time when the use of social assistance for home places is steadily increasing, since the pensions are often not sufficient to cover the costs.

main causes for the crisis

The reasons for this precarious location are diverse. In addition to the constant shortage of skilled workers, which forces many facilities to their knees, personnel and material costs are also increasing. Tagesschau indicates that more and more large nursing home operators such as Dorea, Curata and the Hansa Group have to register bankruptcy. Smaller facilities, such as the Ursula-Lambertz-Haus in Kalterherberg, are particularly affected, which is fighting 38 places, of which only 17 are currently occupied.

Home manager Andreas Nowack reports on a long waiting list, but the home remains under pressure due to the impending bankruptcy. Over a third of the nursing homes already write losses and many can only operate economically if they are at least 98 % occupied. But reality looks different: the need for care is increasing, while a whopping 100,000 nurses are missing.

The role of financing and negotiations

A central problem is the long processing times for grants from the authorities. The facilities often have to perform and wait up to nine months for the approval of the funds. The payment morality of the long -term care insurance funds is considered a main reason for the financial difficulties by those responsible. The AGVP even calls for penalty interest rates because of the delays.

The troubles' difficulties are also reinforced by the tariff bond, which has stipulated since September 2022 that nursing homes have to pay according to tariff. While larger, non -profit organizations such as the Red Cross are under a little less pressure because they do not have to generate high returns, smaller and private providers often have a look.

To stay over water, facilities such as the Ursula Lambertz House are breaking new ground. An expansion is supposedly planned to 80 places, but construction costs are also increasing here. In order to become more attractive as an employer, rely on incentives such as a 1,000 euro welcome bonus, Jobräder and memberships in fitness clubs to attract new employees. With the ongoing difficulties, there is concern that many institutions are still at risk and may have to close, which would have serious consequences for the affected residents.

The precarious situation already clearly shows that the care sector in Germany urgently needs to be reformed. The increasing costs, an acute lack of specialists and the pressure on the facilities not only present the providers with challenges, but above all the people who rely on these important services. It remains to be hoped that suitable solutions will be found before more homes have to close their doors.