What relatives now need to know about the care place

Berlin The social association VdK spreads doomsday mood. September 1 will be a “doomsday” for those in need of care, said President Verena Bentele. Then the mandatory tariff payment in geriatric care applies. There is great concern that many facilities will pass on the costs to those in need of care and their relatives.

From Thursday, nursing homes must be paid according to the tariff or comparable. This was initiated by the black-red federal government and finalized by Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) in January 2022.

In institutions that have to increase salaries, the own contribution is likely to rise sharply – by up to 1000 euros a month. Residents of the nursing home or their relatives have to pay their own share for costs that are not covered by the nursing care rate stipulated by the nursing care insurance funds.

According to the Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds (VDEK), the personal contribution is currently an average of 2200 euros per month. In individual cases it is even significantly higher – according to the VdK, some already pay up to 5000 euros out of their own pocket.