Laumann wants to strengthen home care in the upcoming nursing reform
North Rhine-Westphalia is set to reform its nursing care system with a focus on home-based support. Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) has announced key adjustments to care-grade criteria, aiming to better address individual needs. The changes will take effect from January 1, 2026.
The upcoming reforms will place greater emphasis on life-world-oriented and individual functional limitations. This includes stronger recognition of cognitive and psychosocial needs, as well as improved support for outpatient and dementia-related care. Laumann stressed that these adjustments will not apply retroactively, ensuring current care recipients remain unaffected by past criteria.
Laumann highlighted that 85% of nursing care recipients in Germany already receive support at home rather than in care facilities. He described home care as essential for maintaining stability in the care sector. The minister’s push for reform aligns with his view that strengthening home-based services will better meet the needs of patients and their families.
The new criteria will come into force on January 1, 2026, marking a shift in how care dependency is assessed. The reforms aim to provide more tailored support, particularly for those with cognitive or dementia-related needs. Existing care arrangements will remain unchanged under the previous rules.
