GREEN NURSING CARE REFORM

The key points of the nursing care reform concept presented by the German government in June 2007 leaves one wondering why they took so much time working on it. The current catalogue of measures – both content-wise and financially – is little more than a drop in the bucket. The Green Party parliamentary group presented a complete nursing care reform package already back in September 2006 – long before Germany's ruling coalition of Christian and Social Democrats was ready to recognize the urgency of such reforms.

Nursing care policy goals

Our reform concept is based on two premises: patient-oriented care and stronger emphasis on outpatient care, including alternative care and living options. We believe structural reform is important because only when we know what sort of care we need, we will be able to say how much and what sort of financing it will require. That's why we've developed a concept in which various measures are interconnected and where the needs of those affected are given priority.

Patient-oriented care

For us, the crucial aspect of a sustainable nursing care plan is to reconsider what defines someone as needing care. This should be changed from the current concept of someone with psychological, physical and social problems to include criteria such as special needs and the resources available. Prevention and rehabilitation before and during the period of nursing care should be strengthened. We are pushing for the expansion of independent consultants dedicated to nursing care and living arrangements, as well as for the creation of independent case-managers. These should support those needing care and their relatives in finding tailor-made and sensible nursing care.

We are calling for the medium-term introduction of a nursing budget in order to better help patients. The funds will enable patients to buy support services beyond the current services catalogue, which is inflexible. We are also calling for legally mandated time off for those organizing nursing and terminal care, complete with wage compensation and job protection, allowing people to better combine care and their careers.

Our reform concept stands for the consistent backing and strengthening of outpatient nursing care, such as alternative living and care options. We are calling for equal financial support for in- and out-patient care in order to transition from an emphasis on the former to the latter. We are also calling for ambulatory care that orientates itself on a person's biography and domestic living situation.

Care financed with solidarity

We want to include all Germans in a All Citizen´s Nursing Care Insurance and are pushing for an end to the separation between public and private nursing care insurance. German citizens should pay in what they can, although payment rates will also be adjusted to income levels. If there aren't enough funds for improved nursing care, then we won't rule out an increase in care cost contributions.

In the spirit of generational equality, we are calling for so-called "Demographic reserves" that will be financed within the system through an additional solidarity contribution. Such reserves are indispensable for coming generations, who will be protected should they need nursing care. The need for such care is a risk that can affect all of us, sooner or later.