Older adults aged 80 and above to receive complimentary counseling, proposes the SPD.
Germany Proposes Nationwide Preventive Health Service for Seniors
Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) has proposed the establishment of a nationwide preventive and free consultation service for senior citizens aged 80 and over. The service, intended to be provided by public health nurses, is aimed at maintaining the health and independence of the elderly population.
The SPD has submitted a bill for the comprehensive establishment of this service, which is intended for nationwide implementation. However, as of mid-2025, there is no direct publicly available information confirming the current status of this proposal or specific details about its integration with long-term care insurance.
Related developments in Japan’s healthcare for older adults provide useful context. Japan's Healthier SG program, implemented since July 2023, focuses on preventive healthcare and health maintenance in older adults. The program includes enhancements of general medicine specialties and community-based well-being services targeted at the elderly, indicating systemic support for prevention and chronic care management in the aging population.
While the role of long-term care insurance in these preventive initiatives is not explicitly detailed in the available data, traditionally, Japan’s long-term care insurance system plays a key role in supporting elderly care services, including preventive care efforts, rehabilitation, and functional maintenance.
In Germany, the bill does not specify the exact funding for the municipalities. Tim Bückner (CDU) stated that costs of 20 to 30 million euros cannot be accommodated in the state budget, leaving the remaining costs to be covered by municipalities. The state will cover 75% of the costs for this service.
The Greens have welcomed the initiative but have rejected the current law. Ute Leidig (Greens), State Secretary in the Ministry of Social Affairs, has firmly rejected the term "public health nurse" in the sense of equal opportunities and called for a nationwide overall concept. According to Petra Krebs (Greens), a regulation within the framework of long-term care insurance is necessary. The AfD has also welcomed the initiative.
However, Ute Leidig has emphasised the need for a comprehensive, nationwide approach to this service, rather than focusing on the title of the professionals providing it. The service will be available in cities such as Stuttgart, but the exact rollout plan is yet to be determined.
In summary, while direct confirmation of a specific nationwide preventive consultation service for seniors 80+ is not found, Japan’s existing health policy trends strongly support preventive care initiatives for elderly populations integrated with long-term care insurance frameworks. The German proposal aligns with this trend, with the state committing to cover 75% of the costs and the remaining costs to be covered by municipalities. However, the exact details of the proposal, including its integration with long-term care insurance, are yet to be finalised.
The SPD's proposal for a nationwide preventive health service in Germany centers around the science of health-and-wellness aging, aiming to maintain the health and independence of senior citizens. This service, while not yet integrated with long-term care insurance as of mid-2025, shares similarities with Japan's Healthier SG program, which incorporates preventive healthcare and health maintenance for the elderly within the long-term care insurance framework.
