Care in Focus: Bochum Addresses the Challenges of the Future

Care in Focus: Bochum Addresses the Challenges of the Future

The demographic development and the increasing demand for care present major challenges for cities like Bochum. In February 2026, the topics of care planning, staffing requirements, structural changes, and financial aspects were at the center of municipal policy. Over the past months, the city of Bochum has taken a variety of measures to ensure the care of its population and to develop long-term solutions.

Home-based care before inpatient care: Structures in transition

Bochum follows the principle of "home-based care before inpatient care" to enable those in need of care to enjoy a high quality of life in a familiar environment. In total, there are 73 home-based care services in the city, staffed by 1,701 employees. This corresponds to a care staffing ratio of 6.3 employees per 100 people in need of care.

Nevertheless, there are clear expansion needs, particularly in the areas of day care, short-term care, and service housing. The city plans to provide an additional 82 service apartments by 2049, expand 50 day care places, and create 19 to 25 short-term care places in the north and south of the city.

Home-based care will continue to be strengthened. By 2049, 390 additional care staff will be required to meet the growing demand. Particularly in districts such as Bochum-Ost and Bochum-Süd, the expansion plans are especially ambitious.

Staff shortages and training crisis

A central area of action is the security of care staff. The number of care staff in home-based care has decreased from 2,001 (2021) to 1,701 (2023). At the same time, it is expected that a total of 960 additional care staff will be needed by 2049, including 570 for inpatient and 390 for home-based care.

The training situation remains problematic. Although 540 new training contracts were concluded in 2024, 46% of all completed training programs were terminated without a qualification. This shows the need to improve training support and the attractiveness of the care profession.

The city is relying on projects such as "Bochum bewegt Pflege" and collaborations with educational institutions to attract more young people to the care profession. In addition, the integration of foreign care staff is being promoted, although recognition procedures and language barriers continue to be challenges.

Demographics and long-term planning

The demographic developments in Bochum are clear: 29.3% of the population is aged 60 and over, and the number of people aged 80 and over will increase by 27% by 2049. At the same time, the number of people in need of care will rise to 30,300.

The city has extended its current care planning with the ISG-Institute, which now runs until 2049. This planning takes into account not only the increasing demand for care, but also the spatial distribution of care places and the need for both home-based and inpatient offers. The goal is to increase care capacity in all districts by 2035/2049.

Diversity-oriented care: Inclusion and sensitivity

Bochum is also committed to diversity-oriented care. In 9 out of 12 surveyed home-based care services, religious and cultural needs are taken into account. In addition, some services offer translation assistance to overcome language barriers.

The city also supports further training in culturally sensitive care and in working with LGBTQ+ individuals. Overall, it is clear that Bochum is striving to create a needs-based and inclusive care system – also for the approximately 34.8% of the population with a migration background.

Funding and bureaucratic hurdles

Funding for care remains a challenge. Expenditure per recipient has increased from 8,600 euros (2018) to 12,000 euros (2024). In addition, there are critical voices regarding the long processing times for applications and the often delayed cost reimbursement by the Social Affairs Office.

The city therefore calls for advance funding of care costs and accelerated processing. In addition, Bochum is relying on funding programs such as the Care Support and Relief Act 2023 to finance digital purchases and staff relief.

Future of care: Innovation and networking

In the last meeting of the Committee for Work, Health, and Social Affairs in February 2026, innovative projects were also discussed. A telemedicine system in inter-municipal cooperation with Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, and Bottrop is planned for the second half of 2026. In addition, the introduction of a first aider app for 2026 is planned to respond faster to cardiac arrests.

Another focus is the networking of care providers. The city plans a unified advisory portal and a booking portal for short-term care places. These measures are intended to improve transparency and accessibility.

Conclusion: Bochum on the way to a future-proof care system

The city of Bochum has faced one of the biggest challenges of the future: the increasing demand for care and the shortage of skilled professionals. With a clear care plan, investments in training, a diversity-oriented care system, and innovative projects, Bochum shows what modern, inclusive, and resilient care policy can look like.

The next few years will be decisive – not only for Bochum, but for many cities in rural and urban areas. The challenges are great, but the action proposals and the will to overcome them are present.