VKA

What VKA does

VKA - Verbund katholischer Altenhilfe Paderborn e.V. is a registered Catholic non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) and regional complex provider of elder care within the Erzbistum Paderborn. With approximately 2,400 employees operating across 26 stationary, semi-stationary, and mobile facilities in three regions (Bielefeld, Gütersloh, Paderborn), it delivers an integrated continuum of services: full-time residential care, short-term and day care, mobile nursing (VKA Mobile Dienste St. Katharina), hospice and palliative care (VKA Hospiz- und Palliativzentrum Pauline and AchtsamZeit), assisted living (VKA Piushöfe), shared-living communities (Wohngemeinschaft St. Klara), and a mobile meal service. Operationally the association is supported by four wholly-owned subsidiary gGmbHs — VKA St. Liborius (Bielefeld), Marienheim (Paderborn), VKA St. Josef (Gütersloh), and VKA Service (shared services) — while a five-member church-tied Administrative Council governs the e.V.

The business model is fundamentally a regulated reimbursement business. Core revenue comes from German statutory health and long-term care insurance (Krankenkassen and Pflegekassen) for nursing, day care, and hospice services, supplemented by member contributions from parishes and church organizations (e.g., Christian-Bartels-Stiftung, CariPro), direct customer fees for the mobile meal service, and donations covering roughly 5% of hospice costs and portions of capex such as the EUR 3.3 million Pauline build. The underlying technology layer is operational rather than transformational: a digital quality-management system providing workstation-agnostic document access, an internal e-learning platform, a structured LebensWert guideline and ethical case moderation program anchored in a 9-member Ethics Council, and standard web tooling (Matomo, Google APIs, reCAPTCHA, Twingle/PayPal for donations). Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer through the vka-pb.de website, Facebook/Instagram/Xing, the dedicated pflege-wird-zukunft.de job and information portal, diocesan networks, and word-of-mouth through parish communities.

Name

VKA

Legal name

Verbund katholischer Altenhilfe Paderborn e.V.

Website

https://vka-pb.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

VKA is a Catholic non-profit regional elder-care provider in the Erzbistum Paderborn, operating 26 stationary, day-care, mobile nursing, and hospice facilities across Bielefeld, Gütersloh, and Paderborn with about 2,400 employees serving elderly residents and home-care clients via statutory insurance reimbursement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elderly Care Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Home Health Care Services (62161), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based / Nonprofit Assisted Living Providers (HLADABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dementia Companion & Engagement Care (HSABAEAA), Caregiver Support & Education Programs (Center-Based) (HSABANAN), Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) / Virtual CCRC Programs (HLADAEAH), Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF), End-of-Life Emotional & Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy/Counseling) In-Home (HSABAFAH)

Keywords

• Elderly care services
• Hospice and palliative care
• Nursing homes
• Mobile nursing services
• Assisted living communities

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamm

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Statutory Health and Long-term Care Insurance Reimbursement: Core revenue from government-funded health insurance (Krankenkassen) and long-term care insurance (Pflegekassen) reimbursements for nursing care, hospice services, and day care. 95% of hospice costs are covered by health and nursing care insurance, with 5% covered by donations.
2. Mobile Menu Service Fees: Meal delivery service (Mobiler Menüservice) where customers pay for delivered meals. The service offers up to 365 days per year with no minimum order quantities and at least two menu choices.
3. Donations and Sponsorship: Donation-based funding for hospice and palliative care services. Tageshospiz is funded 95% by insurance and 5% through donations. Hospice and Palliativzentrum Pauline has construction costs of approximately 3.3 million euros, partially funded through donations.
4. Member Contributions: Various parishes and church organizations as members of the association, including Pfarrgemeinde St. Lambertus und Laurentius, CariPro, Christian Bartels Stiftung, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VKA is a regional Catholic-affiliated complex provider of elderly care services operating stationary residential care (24/7 nursing), semi-stationary day care, short-term care, mobile home nursing services (VKA Mobile Dienste St. Katharina), hospice and palliative care (VKA Hospiz- und Palliativzentrum Pauline and VKA AchtsamZeit), mobile meal delivery, assisted living, and shared living communities across 26 facilities in three regions within the Erzbistum Paderborn. The organization also provides ethical counseling, advance care planning, and a project (LebensWert) addressing assisted suicide topics across its network.

Product overview

VKA (Verbund katholischer Altenhilfe Paderborn e.V.) is a modern, regional complex provider in elder care operating in the Archdiocese of Paderborn. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of residential care (stationäre Pflege), day care (Tagespflege), short-term care (Kurzzeitpflege), mobile nursing services (VKA Mobile Dienste St. Katharina), hospice and palliative care (VKA Hospiz- und Palliativzentrum Pauline), outpatient hospice services (VKA AchtsamZeit), mobile meal services, open lunch programs, assisted living, and shared living communities (Wohngemeinschaften). Support services include VKA Service gGmbH for cross-facility operations, ethics consulting (Mobile Ethikberatung), a project addressing assisted suicide (LebensWert), an E-Learning platform for staff training, and sustainability initiatives. With approximately 2,400 employees across 26 facilities in 3 regions, VKA is structured through three subsidiary gGmbHs (VKA St. Liborius for Bielefeld, Marienheim for Paderborn, and VKA St. Josef for Gütersloh) plus a service company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VKA Mobile Dienste St. Katharina: Mobile nursing and care services operating in regions Gütersloh, Bielefeld, and Paderborn, enabling people to live independently in their own homes.
• VKA AchtsamZeit
• VKA Hospiz- und Palliativzentrum Pauline

Products and services

• Stationäre Pflege (Full-time residential care) 24/7 professional medical and nursing care in fully-equipped senior facilities for people requiring long-term care that cannot be provided at home or through day care. Available across 26 stationary facilities in the Erzbistum Paderborn.
• Tagespflege (Day care) Daytime care and companionship in group settings for up to eight hours per day, offering cooking, memory training, gymnastics, and games with rest and retreat options. Provides social engagement and respite for family caregivers.
• Kurzzeitpflege (Short-term care) Temporary care services providing relief for caregivers and variation for those in need of care during transitional phases. Covered for up to eight weeks through long-term care insurance.
• VKA Mobile Dienste St. Katharina (Mobile nursing services) Mobile nursing and care services operating in the regions of Gütersloh, Bielefeld, and Paderborn, supporting people who wish to live in their own homes with professional care, advice, and wellbeing.
• Mobiler Menüservice (Mobile meal service) Daily warm meal delivery service offering nutritious, vitamin-rich meals prepared from fresh ingredients. Available up to 365 days a year with no minimum order quantities, offering at least two menu options.
• VKA AchtsamZeit (Ambulatory hospice service) Outpatient hospice service offering compassionate accompaniment for people in their final life phase and advance care planning services including living wills and healthcare power of attorney.
• VKA Hospiz- und Palliativzentrum Pauline A comprehensive hospice and palliative care center in Paderborn offering day hospice, inpatient hospice care, outpatient hospice accompaniment (VKA AchtsamZeit), ethical counseling, and a neighborhood meeting point 'LebensWert' for people aged 60+.
• VKA Wohngemeinschaften (Shared living communities) Shared living arrangements such as VKA Wohngemeinschaft St. Klara Salzkotten, offering community-based care in a home-like setting.
• Offener Mittagstisch (Open lunch service) Community dining program utilizing existing facility structures to provide meals for people in the neighborhood, fostering social contacts for those living alone.
• VKA Piushöfe Wohnen + Leben (Senior apartments) Senior-friendly apartments in Bielefeld-Gadderbaum offering 18 barrier-free apartments (50-85 sqm) with individual kitchens, underfloor heating, floor-to-ceiling windows, and balconies or outdoor seating, combining independence, security, and community for elderly residents.
• Betreutes Wohnen (Assisted living) Independent living with available support services for elderly individuals who value autonomy while having access to care when needed.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,400 employees serving patients across 26 facilities in 3 regions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, significant and minor.

• DiAG Gesundheits- und Altenhilfe im Erzbistum PaderborncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVKA participates in the Diocesan Working Group for Health and Elderly Care, which represents approximately 120 nursing homes, 90 day care facilities, and 125 social services in Catholic sponsorship across the diocese. Timo Halbe serves on the board.
• VKAD - Verband katholischer Altenhilfe in Deutschland e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVKA is a member of the Association of Catholic Elderly Care in Germany, which advocates for Catholic care providers at the national level. Timo Halbe serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board for Business Administration, Financing and Tariff Affairs.
• Deutsche FernsehlotteriesignificantOthersThe Deutsche Fernsehlotterie provides funding for the LebensWert project - a counseling and coordination service addressing assisted suicide topics in elderly care. The project develops guidelines and provides training for staff.
• Stiftung Bischof Meinwerk des Erzbischöflichen Stuhls zu PaderbornsignificantOthersThe foundation provides financial support for the 'Nachhaltigkeit in hauswirtschaftlichen Arbeitsfeldern' (Sustainability in Household Work Areas) project, enabling VKA to intensify sustainability efforts across the organization.
• IN VIA Akademie PaderborncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for employee education and training. VKA employees participate in the 'Nachhaltigkeitsmanager*in in den hauswirtschaftlichen Arbeitsfeldern' (Sustainability Manager in Household Work Areas) certification program. Also provides training locations for new apprentices.
• Kommunale Pflegekonferenz und Gesundheitskonferenz des Kreises GüterslohminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVKA participates in local healthcare coordination bodies to contribute to regional care planning and policy development.
• Diözesan-Caritasverband für das Erzbistum Paderborn e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVKA holds cooperative membership in the Diocesan Caritas Association, integrating into the Catholic social services network of the diocese.
• European Union (NextGenerationEU / ARF)significantOthersThe EU, together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, provides funding for e-mobility initiatives through the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (ARF) Innovation Premium program.
• Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Love (Kongregation der Schwestern der Christlichen Liebe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe congregation, founded by Pauline von Mallinckrodt, owns the property where the Hospiz- und Palliativzentrum Pauline is being built. VKA maintains historical ties to this founding organization.
• Member Parishes and OrganizationscoreOthersVKA's association members include various parishes (Pfarrgemeinden) such as St. Lambertus und Laurentius, Herz-Jesu, St. Joseph, St. Christina, St. Johannes Baptist, St. Martin, St. Vincentius, St. Georg, and others, as well as CariPro and Christian Bartels Stiftung.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alloheim Senioren-Residenzen: Major private German chain operating ~200 stationary care facilities. Directly comparable to VKA in core stationäre Pflege offering and target demographic, though it operates at greater national scale and without the faith-based overlay.
• Korian Deutschland (Clariane): Largest private operator of stationary and ambulatory elder care in Germany (part of European Clariane group). Competes with VKA for the same residents and caregivers but uses a for-profit, multi-state model rather than faith-based positioning.
• Kursana / DomusVi: Private operator (DomusVi group) running dozens of senior residences and ambulatory services across Germany. Comparable to VKA in service portfolio (stationary, ambulatory, meal services) and target customer, but as a private, secular operator.

Direct peers

• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO): Major German welfare association operating stationary elder care, day care, and mobile services. Comparable to VKA as a large non-profit, multi-site elder care provider with regional structure and statutory reimbursement model, though non-confessional in identity.
• St. Augustinus Gruppe: Catholic non-profit operating elder care, hospice, and healthcare facilities in the Lower Rhine region. Closely comparable to VKA in mission, ownership structure (church-affiliated), and service mix including hospice.
• Diakonie Deutschland: The Protestant counterpart to Caritas, operating an extensive network of stationary and ambulatory elder care services across Germany under a faith-based non-profit structure. Diakonie competes with VKA for similar faith-affiliated families and uses the same statutory insurance reimbursement model.
• Johanniter Seniorenhäuser: Faith-based operator (Protestant/Order-affiliated) running senior residences, mobile care, and hospice services in Germany. Comparable to VKA in faith-based identity, multi-service continuum, and reliance on statutory insurance reimbursement.
• Malteser gGmbH: Catholic aid organization that operates stationary care, hospice services, and outpatient care across Germany. Highly comparable to VKA in faith-based positioning, hospice expertise, and regional care-facility networks.
• Caritas Deutschland: The national umbrella of Catholic welfare associations in Germany. Caritas operates thousands of inpatient and mobile elder care facilities under the same faith-based, non-profit model as VKA, drawing on identical parish/church referral networks and statutory reimbursement. It is the most direct strategic and operational analogue to VKA at a national scale.

Regional players

• St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster: Catholic foundation operating hospitals, elder care, and hospice services primarily in the Münster/Westphalia region adjacent to VKA's territory. Highly comparable in mission and service mix, and a potential regional competitor for the western parts of VKA's catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=KvSDxOr2R6k
• Facebookfacebook.com/VKA.Altenhilfe
• Instagraminstagram.com/vka.verbund.kath.altenhilfe

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VKA