[Social services and the pressure to modernize: new needs and developmental trends in care of the elderly].

Demographic and sociostructural changes put pressure on care services for the elderly within the German welfare system: There is a need for facilities and new concepts. This also requires more and flexible domestic services, which are poorly developed in the German social system. Because the German range of care provider types is easy to navigate, there is increased demand for consumer information and recommendations. Considering the domains of care services, which have been widely distributed to the powerful non-profit welfare organizations, the status quo vs. new flexible service will challenge consumers confidence and choice, especially since todays elderly are more active and have more expendable income. The recently instituted "long-term care insurance" encourages, for the first time, competition between nonprofit organizations and commercial providers. Nevertheless, a clearly perceptible "polarization of age" draws attention to persisting challenges to social policy. Therefore, the increasing competition among types of care providers urges for a truly independent quality control, as well as an effective "welfare mix".