Care services, 2001

In 2001 almost 50 per cent of the users of home-based services were above 80 years of age, while 25 per cent were under the age of 67. Persons receiving home nursing as the only means of help have increased steadily over the last years. Two out of three persons receiving home help or home nursing are women.

6 400 persons received assistance from home help or home nursing equivalent to 355 hours per week. A majority of these were under 67 years of age.

Three of four residents in institutions for the elderly and disabled are aged 80 years or above. A majority of residents are women. Close to 87 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.

Increase in number of institutions and single rooms

By the end of 2001 there were a total of 1052 institutions designated for elderly and disabled users. Private companies or organizations own one of ten institutions. The number of such institutions has been stable over the last years. 4 700 beds are registered in these private institutions.

The number of rooms in institutions amounted to 38 100. Close to 88 per cent of these rooms were single rooms, an increase of 9 percentage points since the beginning of the 1990s.

Of the 42 700 beds in institutions for the elderly and disabled, 37 000 beds were in nursing homes, an increase of 2 700 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 5 200 beds left at the end of 2001.

Increase in other home based services

20 600 persons received special support by the end of 2001. A majority of these persons were under the age of 67. 8 100 person received private respite care. 5 700 of them were under 18 years of age.

Close to 6 300 persons received a municipal cash benefit for caring for close relatives in need of assistance. The number of persons receiving a cash benefit has increased by 300 persons since the end of 2000 and has more than doubled since 1994.

At the end of 2001 more than 46 000 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.

Steady increase in man-years

The man-years in the nursing and care services have increased by nearly 12 400 since 1997. In 2001 the total number of employees was 91 800 man-years, about 0.45 man-years per user. Nurses or auxiliary nurses executed about 50 per cent of the man-years within the nursing and care services. Doctors and physiotherapists executed 620 man-years in institutions for the elderly and disabled.

Tables:

• Table 1 Beds in institutions for the aged and disabled. 1991-2001
• Table 2 Rooms in institutions for the aged and disabled, by type of room. Per cent(N=number of rooms) 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
• Table 7 Users of home based services, by kind of service. 1992-2001
• Table 8 Recipients of respite care, by age. 1996-2001
• Table 9 Recipients of special support, by age. 1996-2001