Care services, 2001, preliminary figures

By the end of the year 41 800 persons lived in institutions. Nearly 75 per cent of the residents were above 80 years, while 4 per cent were under the age of 67. Close to 88 per cent of the residents in institutions have been admitted for a long-term stay, i.e. a stay, which was meant to last more than three months at the time of admittance. A half per cent of the long-term residents were aged 50 years or below.

Increase of nursing home beds

Of the 42 800 beds in institutions for the elderly and disabled, 36 700 are beds in nursing homes, an increase of 2 400 beds since 1997. As in previous years, the number of nursing home beds has risen, while the number of beds in old peoples homes has declined, with 5 300 beds left at the end of 2001.

In 2001 the institutions had 38 200 rooms, of which nearly 88 per cent were single rooms. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the percentage of single rooms has increased by 9 percentage points.

Steady increase in users of home based services

. More than 161 600 person received assistance from the home based services by the end of 2001 an increase of nearly 2000 persons from the previous year. 38 per cent of the users receive practical assistance as the only means of help, i.e. home help. One of four users of home based services are aged 67 or below. More than 6 300 users received care for more than 35.5 hours per week from home- helpers or home nursing. This is an increase of 300 persons compared to 2000.

Over 20 000 persons received special support by the end of 2000. 13 800 of these recipients were less than 50 years of age. 8 000 persons received respite care. More than two thirds of the recipients were aged 18 or below.

More than 6000 persons received a cash benefit from their municipality in exchange for caring for children, parents or other close relatives in need of assistance. The number of caregivers receiving such cash benefits has more than doubled since 1994.

figur 1 [Persons receiving a municipal cash benefit for care for close relatives in need of assistance.1994-2001]

At the end of the year, about 45 000 persons lived in dwellings for the aged and disabled. Younger residents, i.e. those under 67 years of age, account for 30 per cent of all residents of such dwellings, while those 80 years and older account for 43 per cent. Two out of three residents in dwellings were women. Men are in majority only among the residents aged 50 and below.

Steady increase in man-years

Man-years in the nursing and care services have increased by 1 700 from the end of 2000 to the end of 2001. In 2001 the total number of employees was 91 400 man-years, or around 0.45 man-years per user.

Tables:

• Table 1 Beds in institutions for the aged and disabled, by type of ward.1996-2000 (Corrected 24 June 2002)
• Table 2 Rooms in institutions for the aged and disabled, by type of room. Per cent. 1991-2001
• Table 3 Residents in institutions for the elderly and disabled, by age.1992-2001
• Table 4 Residents in dwellings for the aged and disabled.Number of dwellings.1994-2001
• Table 5 Users of home-based services, by age.1992-2001
• Table 6 Man-years within the nursing and care services.1992-2001 (Corrected 24 June 2002)
• Table 7 Users of home based services, by kind of service. 1992-2001