Nursing care insurance | More people in need of care in Saxony need help from the social welfare office

In Saxony, too, the personal contributions put a burden on those in need of care in homes. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa Dresden.  More and more people in Saxony in need of care need support from the social welfare office. Last year, 25,255 affected people received the “assistance with care” benefit, according to a small request from left-wing politician Susanne Schaper in the state parliament. Five years earlier there were 17,410; In 2005 this affected 13,484 people in need of care. 

»It must not become the rule that all or almost all residents in a nursing home need social services - even if they have worked long hours and receive a good pension. However, Saxony has also been moving towards this for years,” explained Schaper, who leads the left-wing faction in the Saxon state parliament. 

The Left advocates capping care costs. Municipalities are under a heavy burden when they have to subsidize more and more people in need of care. »The equity shares must go down. “Saxony should advocate capping its own contributions within the federal government,” it said. It is currently unclear whether the federal government's nursing care reform will bring relief.

»If the pension is not enough and the limited assets have been used up, it will be examined whether the spouse or the family has to step in. We say: All people should grow old with dignity, whether at home or in a nursing home, and one day be able to pass on something," said Schaper, describing her party's claim.

According to Schaper, this is a social task that can only be solved with solidarity. »People with high incomes and large assets must contribute more to this. Everyone who earns an income should pay fairly into full care insurance. Even gross annual incomes over 69,750 euros may no longer remain exempt from contributions.”

In the Saxon state parliament, the SPD and the BSW are also campaigning for a cap on care costs. The Greens are in favor of fundamental care reform and see the Saxon government as having a duty to promote investment in nursing homes more.

In Saxony, too, care costs have continued to rise this year. An evaluation by the Association of Replacement Funds showed that the monthly contribution in the Free State climbed to 3,152 euros as of July 1st. That's almost 300 euros more than a year before.  dpa/nd

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