Over the past decade, healthcare expenses in nursing facilities have nearly doubled. According to the Federal Statistical Office, they increased from 42.4 billion euros in 2013 to 82.4 billion euros in 2023, a rise of 94.2 percent. Ambulatory nursing facilities saw even greater growth, with a 133 percent increase in healthcare expenses. Overall healthcare expenses, however, only rose by 59 percent during this period.
The number of people in need of care under the Nursing Care Insurance Act has more than doubled over the past ten years. In December 2023, there were 5.7 million people in need of care in Germany, compared to 2.6 million ten years ago. The significant increase in the number of people in need of care is attributed to both the aging of society and the introduction of a broader concept of care needs on January 1, 2017. Since then, more people are being classified as in need of care than before.
According to the care forecast, the number of people in need of care in Germany could increase to approximately 7.6 million by 2055. The majority of people in need of care (86 percent or 4.9 million) were cared for at home in 2023. Two-thirds (67 percent or 3.8 million) of them were primarily cared for by family members. 1.1 million people in need of care (19 percent) received assistance or full care at home through ambulatory care or support services. Approximately 0.8 million people in need of care (14 percent) were cared for in full-time nursing homes, according to the statisticians.