Heinz Rothgang presented an interim status of the project on the development of a personnel calculation system for long-term care at the Altenpflege-Zukunftstag: There is substantial need for additional personnel already, which will continue to grow.

For almost two years now Heinz Rothgang is directing a research project at Socium with the aim to develop a science-based method for the calculation of the personnel in German nursing homes. 798 nursing staff were accompanied and observed ("shadowed") during their daily work. A total of 144,000 interventions were registered on a total of 2046 shadow days. On this basis, the need for specialist and auxiliary staff in Germany's nursing homes is currently being calculated.

The project runs until the end of August 2019. At the Altenpflege-Zukunftstag in Nuremberg, Rothgang recently presented the first preliminary results:

• The survey identified shortcomings in the quantity of intervention needed and in the time needed to provide them.
• However, more staff alone does not lead to better care. Improvements in the organisational structure and workflows are also necessary.
• The current standard rate of 50% of skilled workers should be replaced by individual qualification structures in each home, which depend on the need for care of the residents.
• There is an increased demand for both skilled and assistant staff, with a disproportionate increase in the number of additional assistants needed.
• If other qualification mixes arise, the role of skilled workers must also be redefined and these must be used above all in planning, guidance and supervision. This requires personnel development processes.
• The necessary adjustments must be made gradually in a convergence phase.
  More personnel means rising costs in the magnitude of billions. Necessary salary increases for nursing staff reinforce this development.
• A reform of the long-term care insurance system is necessary in order to limit the financial contribution of those in need of long-term care.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Heinz Rothgang
CRC 1342: Global Dynamics of Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 3
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-58557
E-Mail: rothgang@uni-bremen.de