Aichwald is fighting for 60 new nursing places: construction of a nursing home planned!

Aichwald is fighting for 60 new nursing places: construction of a nursing home planned!

There is an urgent need for additional care places in the community of Aichwald. According to recent reports from Stuttgart News The community needs a total of 60 new care places to meet demographic change and the needs of the older population. The construction of a new nursing home at the entrance to Schanbach is being planned, which will ideally be combined with a full-range retailer. So far there are only 36 care places in the “Im Lutzen” senior center, which are not enough to cover current needs.

A suitable site being considered for the new nursing home is approximately two acres. However, this property is privately owned and is planted with orchards. In order to be able to proceed with the construction plans, the community needs an exemption from the Esslingen district office, as orchards are under special protection. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority requires a detailed site analysis, which must prove the necessity of the property, as Aichwald is surrounded by numerous landscape protection areas.

Planned steps and legal challenges

A planning office was commissioned to carry out the necessary site analysis and ecological assessment. The results of these analyzes are expected before the summer holidays. After receiving the necessary approvals, the municipality plans to acquire the property and amend the zoning plan accordingly. However, the entire process could take several years, as changing the land use plan and the development plan could take at least two years. This slow progress is unfortunate as there is currently no sponsor for the nursing home.

An important aspect of the upcoming planning is the legal framework. Establishing a nursing home requires compliance with the Nursing Care Insurance Act. Approval for the new care facility must be applied for, how Aichwald.de explained. The Social Code XI regulates which companies are allowed to offer care services and how they are financed. The difference between outpatient and inpatient facilities is crucial and must be taken into account when planning.

Skilled labor shortages and economic challenges

Another problem is the current reluctance of potential sponsors to participate in the construction and operation of the nursing home. “The Zieglerschen” have signaled that they are not interested in being the sponsor. Mayor Andreas Jarolim attributes this to the high construction prices and the shortage of skilled workers, which represent a major hurdle for private providers. The local council plans to be informed about the current status after the summer break in order to discuss further steps.

The situation in Aichwald highlights the challenges that many communities in Germany have to overcome with regard to geriatric care. Efforts to improve care infrastructure often face complicated legal, financial and practical hurdles.