A recent assessment by the Iges Institute, commissioned by the Federal Government’s Care Commissioner, has identified significant shortcomings in municipal care planning initiatives. The report, highlighted by Mediengruppe Bayern, emphasizes the critical need for enhanced coordination between districts and within regions, noting that this essential element is only addressed in approximately half of the current planning documents. The assessment explicitly states that fostering stronger collaboration among stakeholders presents a considerable challenge, particularly given the ongoing decline in available personnel and is increasingly vital for ensuring consistent care provision.
The institute’s findings suggest that current planning efforts frequently lack concrete actionability. Many reports fail to include specific measures geared towards adapting care structures to meet evolving needs. A common impression is that planning is primarily driven by regulatory compliance, with municipalities stopping short of drawing meaningful conclusions or formulating proactive strategies to address identified issues.
Furthermore, the assessment highlights an over-reliance on simply quantifying the number of individuals requiring care. Future care needs are typically presented solely as a numerical figure, with estimates of required bed capacity (in residential settings) or staffing levels (for both ambulatory and residential care) rarely calculated.
According to Care Commissioner Katrin Staffler (CSU), a more holistic approach to care planning is essential. She advocates for integrated social planning within municipalities, extending beyond narrow care structure considerations. This vision includes fostering age-friendly and family-friendly communities, encompassing aspects such as housing, transportation, access to shops, medical services, recreational opportunities, social interaction, cultural activities and education.
The needs of younger individuals requiring care also necessitate inclusion in planning efforts, according to the Commissioner. Staffler has signaled her intention to introduce stricter requirements in this area. Currently, municipal care needs planning is not a mandatory prerequisite for care contracts or investment funding, unlike the healthcare sector. This discrepancy, she argues, needs to be rectified.
Finally, the assessment points to deficiencies in data availability as a significant obstacle. Municipalities require access to comprehensive data from health and care insurers regarding existing care provision within their jurisdictions. This demand was initially flagged by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) within the draft Pflegekompetenzgesetz (Care Competence Act).