Status: 13.10.2023, 18:00 PM
By: Magnus Reitinger
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Good care comes at a price, and it's gone up this year – which has a direct impact on residents' home fees. © Symbolic photo: Werner Krueper
This autumn, the fees for residents of the Weilheim community home were massively increased: they rose by around ten percent. From care level two, more than 2770 euros per month must currently be paid in the first year.
Weilheim – "The result is madness," said home manager Rainer Schlosser when he recently presented the new care rates and home fees to the main committee of the Weilheim city council, which the community home negotiated or agreed with the district of Upper Bavaria and the Working Group of Nursing Care Insurance Associations in Bavaria in August. According to Schlosser, there are "massive increases, the likes of which I have never experienced in my career": He cited the high collective bargaining agreements in particular as the reason – these are "nice for the employees, but expensive for the residents".
Fee increase by an average of ten percent
Home fees already increased by an average of ten percent as of September 2023 – just one year after the most recent adjustment. From care level two, residents with full inpatient care currently have to pay over 2770 euros per month - at least in the first year that they live in the home. After that, higher relief from a "small care reform" from last year will take effect: After one year in the home, residents from care level two onwards currently pay around 2438 euros per month, after two years 2103 euros and after three years about 1685 euros.
Home fees: Some relief from January 2024
From January 2024, home fees will be reduced by an average of around 80 euros. Because then higher relief rates will take effect through the Care Relief Act, Schlosser explained to the main committee. For residents with care levels between two and five, the benefit supplement to be paid by the long-term care insurance fund will then increase from 5 to 15 percent in the first twelve months, from 25 to 30 percent after twelve months, from 24 to 45 percent after 50 months and from 36 to 70 percent after 75 months. This regulation would reduce the financial burden on those in need of care somewhat, Schlosser said, "but it is simply not enough to provide noticeable relief for residents." This would require "a major care reform," says the head of the community center – but this is currently "not on the agenda" on the part of politicians.
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After the preliminary deliberations in the main committee, Weilheim's city council unanimously approved the new dormitory fees at its most recent meeting – which Schlosser was unable to attend due to illness. There was no discussion about this.
In 2022, there was a shortfall due to occupancy stops due to Corona
The annual financial statements of the community center for 2022 were also approved. In the case of "senior-friendly living", total assets amounted to more than 5.6 million euros – with a surplus of just under 46,000 euros. In the "Full Inpatient Care" segment, total assets amounted to just over EUR 8.6 million, with the income statement showing a net loss of EUR 43,812 for the year. This was due to an occupancy freeze when Corona was still struggling in the first half of 2022, Schlosser explained: "There were compensation payments, but they weren't quite enough."
Overall, however, and compared to other institutions, the community center has come through the Corona years with a "reddened eye", according to the home director. Brigitte Gronau, the city councillor's advisor for the community centre, took this opportunity to thank the "many volunteers" who have worked in the facility during the pandemic. "That would not have been possible for the employees to do."