News

What's new at the Korian Foundation?

Check out our press releases or subscribe to our newsletter to stay regularly informed.

Lived participation in care: Korian Foundation awards wheelchair adventure tours GIAMBO with the Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care 2026

Essen, April 22, 2026 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging has awarded the 2026 Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care to GIAMBO gUG, a wheelchair-accessible travel company from Hamburg. The award was presented for the first time yesterday at the ALTENPFLEGE trade fair in Essen and recognizes the initiative's exceptional commitment to greater participation, self-determination, and quality of life for people with support needs.



The Korian Foundation Award 2026 goes to “Wheelchair Adventure Travel GIAMBO gUG” – innovative travel for people with support needs.

Munich, March 11, 2026 – This year's Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care goes to GIAMBO gUG, a wheelchair-accessible travel organization based in Hamburg. The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is recognizing the initiative for its innovative work. GIAMBO wheelchair-accessible travel enables people with mobility impairments to enjoy free travel and cultural participation that goes far beyond traditional care services.



Focus on Care in 2030 – an interview with Korian CEO Christian Gharieb in care konkret

The nursing home of the future is a task for society as a whole. Christian Gharieb, CEO of Korian Deutschland GmbH, is convinced of this. In an interview with the magazine care konkret, he talks about the Pflege2030 model project, innovation, securing skilled workers, and how care can be designed to be humane, sustainable, and future-proof.

©care konkret No. 43/25, Vincentz Network, Hannover



The Korian Foundation has awarded the Bremen-based care service Pflegedienst Vielfalt GmbH with the 2025 Award for Diversity and Respect in Care.

Berlin, November 10, 2025 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging presented the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care 2025 on Friday evening at the Lebensort Vielfalt (Diversity Living Space) in Berlin. This year's award goes to Vielfalt GmbH, Bremen, the first outpatient care service in Germany to focus on sexuality and gender diversity.



Providing professional support for sexuality – article in Aktivieren 5/25

Munich, October 15, 2025 – Our brochure is making the rounds! Read in the current issue of Aktivieren 5/25 (Vincentz Network, Hanover) how sexuality can be experienced in the care context with the help of our brochure. All information on how to obtain the brochure can be found in the article or here on our website under the heading "Sexuality in the Care Context".



Rethinking nursing care – a portrait of Elisabeth Scharfenberg

As a member of the German Bundestag, she was one of the leading voices in nursing and elderly care policy for twelve years; today, as a board member of the Korian Foundation, she continues to advocate for quality care with undiminished passion: Elisabeth Scharfenberg. In Carestone's insight magazine, she discusses why nursing care must be more than standards and bed numbers, why diversity is crucial, and why we are all called upon to shape the future of aging with dignity.

Apply now!

Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Nursing 2026

Munich, September 30, 2025 – The non-profit Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is awarding its Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care for the sixth time. With this prize, the foundation recognizes care providers and projects that actively embrace diversity and integrate diversity-sensitive care into their work in a particularly effective way.



The Korian Foundation Award 2025 goes to “vielfältig. GmbH Bremen” – the first outpatient care service with a focus on sexuality and diversity.

Munich, August 12, 2025 – This year's Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect, presented by the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging, goes to Vielfalt.Bremen. The outpatient care service is the first nationwide to integrate sexuality and gender diversity as a matter of course.

the care process is integrated.



Care2030 meets Europe – How a model project creates new perspectives

On June 23, 2025, an international delegation visited the model facility Haus Curanum Karlsfeld as part of the Pflege2030 project. The excursion was organized by the Province of North Brabant (Netherlands), High Tech NL Robotics, and Odense Robotics (Denmark). The visit served as a platform for international exchange on the use of care robotics and innovative technologies in everyday care. The program also included the Automatica trade fair and networking meetings with in-depth discussions on site. The central focus was the shared goal of making the care sector future-proof. We spoke with Iris Schoones from the Province of North Brabant about her impressions of the facility, the potential of model projects, and the importance of European networking.

A breath of fresh air in our Palate Care project

We are delighted to introduce our new chefs, Carola Stumpe-Richter and Martin Freiberger! They bring a breath of fresh air, a lot of passion, and culinary delights to the care facilities through the GaumenPflege (Gourmet Care) project. Learn more on our GaumenPflege page.

Brochure for nursing and care staff: Professionally supporting sexuality in old age

Munich, April 3, 2025 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging has published the new brochure “Let’s talk about Sex – Sexuality in Old Age in the Context of Nursing Homes.” It is aimed at people working in residential care facilities and provides concrete guidance for professionally addressing sexuality in old age.

Korian Foundation at ALTENPFLEGE 2025 – Actively shaping the future of care!

The Korian Foundation is proud to present a diverse program at the ALTENPFLEGE Arena in Nuremberg from April 8th to 10th, in partnership with CareGuardians, as part of the ALTENPFLEGE 2025 trade fair. With inspiring lectures and engaging discussions, we will provide insights into current challenges and innovative solutions in the field of elderly care.

Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging launches call for entries for the Diversity Award 2025

Munich, February 4, 2025 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is once again awarding its prestigious Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care this year, which comes with a prize of 2,000 euros.



Korian Foundation publishes fairy tale book for people with dementia and their relatives

Munich, December 4, 2024 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is publishing "The Still Brave Knight Harry of Spreetal," a fairytale book specifically for people with dementia, their relatives, and caregivers. Through the story of the brave knight Harry, the book invites readers to immerse themselves in a world full of memories.

Bavaria's State Minister for Health, Care and Prevention, Judith Gerlach, visits the "Care 2030" model facility Haus Curanum Karlsfeld

Munich, November 27, 2024 – Judith Gerlach, Bavaria's State Minister for Health, Care and Prevention, visited the Haus Curanum Karlsfeld care facility in the Dachau district yesterday to learn about the progress of the "Care 2030" pilot project. Funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for Health, Care and Prevention and initiated by the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging, the project is testing how digital care technologies and a new staffing assessment procedure can improve the quality of care in inpatient facilities in the long term.



Berlin day care center Hoffmannsgarten wins Korian Foundation Award 2024 for inclusive theatre project

Munich, September 16, 2024 – The Berlin-based day care center hoffmannsgarten has won this year's German Care Award for Diversity and Respect, presented by the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging, for its inclusive theater project "Journey of Wishes." The actors in the project are people in need of care as well as those with dementia.



Der Virtual Care Congress

The VCC is an exchange platform for all experts and interested parties from research & practice, managing directors, nursing directors, specialists & managers, trainers and trainees.

Elisabeth Scharfenberg was invited to deliver a greeting for this year's event, which can be viewed here.



Only one month left until the application deadline!

Munich, April 10, 2024 – For the fourth time, the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is calling for applications for the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care. The award will be presented on November 7, 2024, at the German Nursing Congress in Berlin as the German Nursing Award in the category of Diversity and Respect in Care.

Our 2023 activity report is online!

Munich, March 7, 2024 – We look back on 365 exciting days with new projects and perspectives for nursing!

Read here what occupied us at the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging last year.

Apply now for the Korian Foundation Award 2024 for Diversity and Respect in Nursing

Munich, January 15, 2024 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is calling for applications for the fourth time for the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care. The award will be presented at the German Nursing Congress in autumn 2024 as the German Nursing Award in the category of Diversity and Respect in Care.

Korian Foundation: First interim report on the funded model project "Care 2030"

Munich, December 7, 2023 – One year after the start of the “Care 2030” project, the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging presents a first interim report at the “Haus Curanum Karlsfeld” care facility in the district of Dachau.

German Nursing Award: Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Nursing presented to AGAPLESION Markus Diakonie gGmbH

Berlin, September 29, 2023 – At the German Nursing Congress last night, the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Nursing was presented for the third time. The winner of the award is the M

AGAPLESION Schwanthaler Carrée, part of AGAPLESION Markus Diakonie gGmbH in Frankfurt/Main, was honored for its focus on queer-sensitive care and the integration and inclusion of employees with a migration background and disabilities. The Korian Foundation Award was presented at the German Nursing Congress 2023 in Berlin as the German Nursing Prize in the category of Diversity and Respect.

Korian Foundation Award 2023 for queer-sensitive AGAPLESION MARKUS DIAKONIE gGmbH

Munich, July 25, 2023 – This year's Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care goes to the AGAPLESION SCHWANTHALER CARRÉE of the AGAPLESION MARKUS DIAKONIE in Frankfurt. The facility impressed the judges with a concept that also focuses on queer seniors and staff. The award, presented as the German Care Award in the category of Diversity and Respect, will be presented by the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging on September 28, 2023, during the German Care Day in Berlin and includes prize money of €2,000.

Our 2022 activity report is here!

Munich, June 13, 2023 – The Korian Foundation is pleased to look back on an exciting year of foundation work. 2022 was filled with numerous projects, encounters, and events. If you would like to learn more, please take a look at our 2022 activity report.

Care assistants with refugee experience: Korian Foundation supports the "Care Champions" qualification program

Munich/Berlin, May 23, 2023 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is supporting the "Care Champions" qualification project of the social enterprise Social-Bee gGmbH. "Care Champions" is a care program in which 16 people with refugee or migration backgrounds are trained as care assistants. The second iteration of the program, which started at the beginning of May 2023, focuses on Berlin and especially on women.

Korian Foundation: Everyday Care Without Violence – New Workshop Series in Cooperation with BKK VBU

Munich, March 9, 2023 – “Strengthening without violence” is the name of a workshop series by the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging, which is being carried out in cooperation with BKK VBU and is explicitly aimed at people working in the care sector.

The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging celebrates its 3rd anniversary.

Munich, February 24, 2023 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is celebrating its third anniversary. Founded in February 2020, the foundation has established itself in the care sector in recent years and contributes to improving care through its diverse projects.

Thùy Linh Nguyễn-Huỳnh and Jummy Nguyễn in an interview about diversity in nursing

Read the full interview with Thùy Linh Nguyễn-Huỳnh and Jummy Nguyễn, founders of the social media community “viet.care”, here.

Care 2030: Korian Foundation and Bavarian Ministry of Health launch model project in a care facility in Karlsfeld

Munich/Karlsfeld, December 19, 2022 – A model project for the future of care, entitled “Care 2030”, is starting today at the Haus Curanum inpatient care facility in Karlsfeld.

Apply now for the Korian Foundation Award 2023 for Diversity and Respect in Nursing

Munich, November 16, 2022 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is awarding the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care for the third time in 2023.

Korian Foundation: Sex in retirement homes should not be taboo

Munich, November 15, 2022 – Fokus Pflege, the podcast of the Korian Foundation for care and dignified aging, explores a taboo topic: sex in nursing homes.

Elisabeth Scharfenberg, board member of the Korian Foundation, discusses this with Michael Rehnen, director of the "Haus Phönix-Seniorenzentrum" care facility in Fürth. He and his care team are clear: sexuality in old age is a part of life and should not be taboo.

Mission Farewell: new brochure on bereavement support in nursing care

Munich, October 20, 2022 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging has published a brochure entitled "Mission Farewell" on the topic of grief in caregiving. The 40-page booklet was created in collaboration with grief counselor Manuel Schweichler, the Ahorn Group, and BKK VBU, and contains valuable tips and support for all those working in elderly care. "Mission Farewell" is available free of charge from the foundation.

German Nursing Award: Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Nursing presented for the second time

Berlin/Munich, October 7, 2022 – Last night, the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care was presented for the second time. The winner of the award is Hilfe im Alter gGmbH from Munich. The subsidiary of Diakonie München und Oberbayern was honored for its commitment and implementation regarding the integration of employees with disabilities and migration backgrounds.



The award in the category of diversity and respect was presented at the German Nursing Day 2022 Nursing Award ceremony in Berlin.

Radiant and refreshed: Care workers recharge their energy with healing cave therapy

Munich, September 15, 2022 – Radon therapy for caregivers provides relaxation and pain reduction. This is the result of a joint study project by Coburg University of Applied Sciences, the Bad Gastein Healing Gallery, Korian Germany, and the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging. For the study, caregivers from Korian Germany underwent two weeks of radon radiation therapy in Bad Gastein, known for its radon-enriched healing gallery. Radon is attributed with healing effects, and thus, in addition to massages, daily trips into the gallery were part of the therapy program. The study was conducted by students of the Master's program in Health Promotion. The aim was to determine the extent to which well-being, stress levels, and pain perception changed as a result of a two-week stay with therapeutic applications in the healing gallery.

Korian Foundation Award 2022 for the integration of people with disabilities and migration backgrounds

Munich, September 8, 2022 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is awarding this year's Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care to the organization Hilfe im Alter gGmbH in Bavaria, which belongs to Diakonie Munich and Upper Bavaria. The organization is being recognized for its commitment to supporting the integration of employees with disabilities and the integration of foreign nursing professionals.

Korian Foundation: Palate care now also available as an e-book

Munich, August 16, 2022 – How can caregivers maintain a healthy and balanced diet? And how can this be implemented in the stressful daily routine of caregiving? The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging addressed these questions and launched the health promotion project "GaumenPflege – Eat Yourself Happy" specifically for caregivers. BKK ProVita is a cooperation partner in this project. As part of GaumenPflege, an e-book was created in collaboration with Ayurvedic chef Volker Mehl and other experts. In addition to tasty, wholesome, and practical recipes, the e-book contains tips drawn from Ayurvedic wisdom, nutritional psychology, and nutritional science.

AromaCare: Korian Foundation and PRIMAVERA working together for caregivers

Munich, May 5, 2022 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging, in cooperation with PRIMAVERA, is now offering free seminars for caregivers entitled "Aroma Care," where they will learn the fundamentals of aromatherapy. In the two-day workshops, caregivers will learn, among other things, how essential oils can contribute to stress reduction and how they can integrate this knowledge into their daily care practice.

Top-class cuisine for caregivers - Korian Foundation launches new project for care workers

Munich, April 6, 2022 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging is launching a new initiative specifically for caregivers under the title "Top Cuisine – Top Care." Starting immediately, recipes from Germany's most prominent chefs will be published each month. Easy to prepare yet sophisticated, the recipes aim to make meals in the stressful daily routine of caregiving as uncomplicated as possible while still being enjoyable. The initiative kicks off with a recipe from Sarah Wiener, which she has generously provided to the foundation: Pea Spread with Wild Garlic.

Nursing is becoming more diverse! Call for entries for the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Nursing 2022

Munich, March 30, 2022 – The Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care will be presented again this year. This award, presented at the German Nursing Congress in autumn 2022, recognizes care providers and projects committed to diversity-sensitive care. Applications are open to all facilities, individual teams, care providers, institutions, and projects that have developed sustainable ideas and concepts and are already implementing initial measures. The award is presented by the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging.

German Nursing Award: Winners of the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Nursing honored

Berlin/Munich, October 14, 2021 – Last night, the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Nursing Care was presented for the first time: The Immanuel Senior Center Schöneberg in Berlin received the award for its commitment to LGBTQI*-culturally sensitive care. The prize was awarded as part of the German Nursing Care Day as the German Nursing Care Award in the category of Diversity and Respect.

The Korian Foundation Award 2021 recognizes culturally sensitive care for LGBTQI* people.

Munich, September 28, 2021 – The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging will award the Korian Foundation Award for Diversity and Respect in Care for the first time in 2021. With this award, the foundation is highlighting an important issue: diversity-sensitive care. The Immanuel Senior Center Berlin will be the first recipient of the award for its commitment to LGBTQI* culturally sensitive care. The Korian Foundation Award, a care prize in the category of "Diversity and Respect," will be presented at the German Nursing Congress on October 13, 2021, in Berlin.

Successful nursing internship for refugees leads to apprenticeship contract

Munich, July 29, 2021 – As part of the THE CARE CHAMPIONS qualification program, 20 people with refugee experience acquired basic nursing skills and completed a nursing-specific German course over four months. The participants came from a total of 14 different nations, including Gambia, Nigeria, Somalia, Iran, Togo, Syria, and Afghanistan. During two-week internships at six facilities run by various organizations, the participants gained valuable insights into the daily work routine of a nursing home.

Statement on International Nurses Day

Munich, May 12, 2021 – On today's International Nurses Day, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, Elisabeth Scharfenberg, Chair of the Korian Foundation, reminds us that the recognition and narrative that nurses are essential workers is not enough. Tangible consequences must follow, both for the nurses themselves and ultimately for those in need of care. Because anyone can be affected by the need for care.

Earn points with the Korian Foundation: Auszeit-ICHZeit awards continuing education credits

Munich, March 4, 2021 – We are delighted that our important and valuable program is now an officially certified professional development course. Firstly, we hope this will motivate caregivers to register. But even more importantly, we hope they will recognize the importance of stress management and receive guidance through the program that will help them cope with daily life with renewed strength. Because only when caregivers are well, can those they care for truly thrive.

Study “Investigation of retrospective vaccination decisions (SARS-CoV 2) using the example of an inpatient nursing home operator”

Munich, January 25, 2021 – What factors explain the critical skepticism among nursing staff regarding current COVID-19 vaccines? Korian Deutschland AG, Germany's largest private nursing home operator headquartered in Munich, will investigate this question and potential influencing factors on behalf of the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging.

Korian Foundation: Delicious live cooking on Rose Monday

Munich, February 12, 2021 – Carnival, Fasching, and Fassenach are cancelled this year. To ease the sadness a little, the Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging, together with its "GaumenPflege" (Gourmet Care) nutrition project, is planning a live cooking event on Rose Monday. And as we all know, food makes you happy.

Korian Foundation commences work

Free online course on stress management starts in November

Munich, November 10, 2020

Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Aging established

The German foundation was established on February 15, 2020. With this, KORIAN Germany aims to further strengthen its social commitment and advocate for high-quality care and dignified aging.