Germany Faces Shortage Of Caregivers For The Elderly

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 14: Student Elena Brandt puts on rubber gloves as she prepares to give a bed bath to a mannequin named Frau Schmidt, used as a model patient during an elderly care training program at the Edith Stein Catholic vocational training center on May 14, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The supply of caregivers for the elderly in Germany has not met the demand, as an aging population finds itself in need of qualified nurses. According to one study, estimates hold that there will be a shortage of up to 152,000 caregivers by the year 2025. Due to low fertility rates and increased longevity, the elderly population of the country is predicted to increase from 7% of the total population in the previous century to over 10% by the year 2020. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)