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Key challenges are the lack of specialist staff and rising care costs. "What we are seeing is a massive increase in the number of people in need of care. Since 2013, the number in Å·ÃÀÊìÅ®ÂÒÂ× has almost doubled to more than 210,000 people," said Health Senator Ina Czyborra after the recent Senate meeting.

There, the SPD politician presented the "State Care Plan 2025". "We can see that 87 percent of people in need of care are cared for at home," said Czyborra - usually by relatives, only some with the help of outpatient services. People are cared for in every tenth household in Å·ÃÀÊìÅ®ÂÒÂ×. "That's 2.2 million households in Å·ÃÀÊìÅ®ÂÒÂ×." And it is clear that the number is not decreasing. "We have enormous challenges," emphasized Czyborra.

Supporting family caregivers is therefore essential, according to the Landespflegeplan (State Care Plan). Another important aspect is to prevent the need for care through suitable preventative measures, such as home visits for people over 70, during which information is provided about support services. The aim must be to ensure that people can live safely and independently at home for longer, said the Senator. Three dozen care support points in Å·ÃÀÊìÅ®ÂÒÂ× are intended to help with this by providing advice, among other things. This could include, for example, the question of how to make homes safer and prevent falls.

The "State Care Plan" also mentions the promotion of communal forms of living, such as shared care homes. Care is also to be improved with the help of the new position of care officer. There are also plans to expand short-term care places and facilitate the recognition of foreign nursing qualifications. A new law is intended to strengthen care planning and management at state level.

Forecasts for the number of people in need of care in Å·ÃÀÊìÅ®ÂÒÂ× in the future are difficult, said Czyborra. "That depends on many factors." The decisive factor is not least how good the prevention services are - especially with regard to the baby boomers. There are many levers here. "They need to be identified." But one thing is certain: "If we do nothing, we will have a huge problem," warned the senator.