SPD to Introduce Concept to Limit Long-Term Care Expenses in Election Campaign
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) will incorporate a concept to limit long-term care expenses in its election program, as reported by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. The party’s program, to be officially presented by Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, proposes a cap on long-term care expenses, the newspaper said.
According to the party’s program, long-term care should not be a luxury, but a right that must remain affordable for all. The SPD suggests capping the self-payment for stationary long-term care at a maximum of €1,000 per month for all residents. Rent and food costs will still be added on top of this.
The cap is expected to bring more planning security and significant savings for seniors. The SPD claims that residents of care homes will be relieved of an average of €678 per month. Currently, the long-term care expenses are dependent on the length of stay in the care home, with a state subsidy of 15% in the first year, 30% in the second year, 50% in the third year, and 75% in the fourth year and beyond. The SPD’s proposal to abolish this tiered system makes the reform cost-neutral, according to the party.
The SPD’s program also includes a provision for maintaining the existing self-payment for those who have already been living in care homes and benefiting from the high subsidies, as long as their self-payment is below €1,000. The party estimates the cost of this provision at €1.9 billion in the first year, with the costs decreasing significantly thereafter.
The goal of the reform is to reduce the length of stay in care homes (average of 25 months) and to strengthen home care, so that those in need of care can stay in their familiar environment for as long as possible.
The SPD’s program also states that the party will ensure that those in need of care and their families receive the necessary services reliably, with a clear priority on home care, so that those affected can stay in their familiar environment for as long as possible.
Those being cared for at home will also be relieved: the self-payment for mobile care will be capped at €1,000, so that the cost of care at home does not become a more attractive option than a care home. Those who care for family members will, like parents, receive a family care allowance from the state.
The state will also provide a family care allowance, similar to the parental leave allowance, which is 65% of the previous net salary, up to a maximum of €1,800 per month. To encourage care workers to remain in their jobs, the SPD proposes a time-off system, with a reduced working week at full pay or a three-month special leave after ten years of working in the care sector.