Association of German Assistance for the Elderly and Disabled

The Verband Deutscher Alten- und Behindertenhilfe e. V. (VDAB) — rendered in English as the Association of German Assistance for the Elderly and Disabled — is a nationwide German trade association (Trägerverband) for private care providers. It represents the interests of more than 1,800 member companies active in outpatient (ambulant) and inpatient (stationär) elderly care and disability assistance. The association was founded in 1992 by Artur J. Geisler and has been active for more than three decades. Its federal headquarters are in Essen, and it also maintains a capital office in Berlin. The VDAB is structured as twelve legally independent registered associations: a federal association (Bundesverband) and eleven state associations (Landesverbände). It participates in Germany's care self-administration (Pflege-Selbstverwaltung) at both federal and state level as a provider association. In addition to its advocacy work, the VDAB operates its own elderly-care nursing school, where more than 1,000 nursing professionals are trained each year. The association's membership spans a broad range of care and support services: outpatient nursing services, inpatient care facilities, short-term care, day care, night care, intensive care, integration-assistance facilities, outpatient shared apartments, special housing forms, care services, child and youth welfare, and assisted living. Its stated mission is to support care entrepreneurs in running their businesses successfully, to bundle the voices of small and medium-sized care and integration-assistance enterprises, and to represent their interests vis-à-vis health insurers, auditing institutions, ministries, and courts. Politically, the VDAB advocates for greater entrepreneurial freedom, fair remuneration, reduction of bureaucracy, and competitive equality with all other providers, including welfare organizations. Its leadership includes federal chairman Stephan Baumann and full-time federal managing director Thomas Knieling. The association publishes press releases and maintains media channels, including a WhatsApp channel, and organizes events such as the CareNect congress.

The Verband Deutscher Alten- und Behindertenhilfe e. V. (VDAB) was founded in 1992 by Artur J. Geisler. It emerged as a nationwide trade association (Trägerverband) dedicated to representing private care companies in Germany. Over more than three decades, the association has grown to represent over 1,800 member companies in outpatient and inpatient elderly care and disability assistance. The VDAB is organized as twelve legally independent registered associations: a federal association (Bundesverband) and eleven state associations (Landesverbände). This structure allows it to operate at both federal and state levels. It maintains its main headquarters in Essen and a capital office in Berlin. As a provider association, it is part of Germany's care self-administration (Pflege-Selbstverwaltung) at federal and state level. In addition to its advocacy work, the VDAB operates its own elderly-care nursing school, where more than 1,000 nursing professionals are trained each year. The association's current federal chairman is Stephan Baumann, and its full-time federal managing director is Thomas Knieling. The VDAB continues to publish press releases, maintain media channels such as a WhatsApp channel, and organize events like the CareNect congress.

• 1992

  VDAB founded by Artur J. Geisler.

• Association grows to represent over 1,800 member companies.

• Operates its own elderly-care nursing school, training more than 1,000 nursing professionals per year.

A strong association for small and medium-sized private professional care providers, advocating entrepreneurial freedom, fair remuneration, less bureaucracy, and competitive equality.

• Membership and advocacy services

  Representation of private care providers' interests vis-à-vis health insurers, auditing institutions, ministries, and courts.

• Legal advice and negotiation support

  Practice-oriented information, forms, legal advice, and assistance in negotiations and disputes.

• Elderly-care nursing school

  Training more than 1,000 nursing professionals per year.

1. 1VDAB | VDABvdab.de
2. 2Über uns | VDABvdab.de
3. 3Association of German Assistance for the Elderly and Disabledwikidata.org
4. 4Verband Deutscher Alten- und Behindertenhilfede.wikipedia.org