Old people receiving more and more care

The volume of care provided to the elderly is growing faster than the number of patients. As a result, the volume of care per old person is increasing. This increase is stronger for people receiving care at home than for residents in nursing and care homes. In the period 2002-2006 the total volume of care provided at home, and in nursing and care homes rose by an average 3.6 percent per year.

Home care growing particularly strongly

The number of patients receiving care at home rose by an average 2.8 percent in the period 2002-2006. The hours of care rose by more: on average 3.4 percent per year. In 2005 and 2006, in particular, the hours of care per patient rose strongly.

Patients receiving home care not only receive more hours of care but also more intensive forms of care, such as nursing care. As a result, the total volume  of home care rose even more strongly, nearly 7 percent per year, than the total hours of care.

Volume of care

Fewer people in nursing and care homes

The number of residents in care and nursing homes fell by an average 0.9 percent per year from 2002 to 2006. The number of nursing and care days also fell slightly. In spite of this, the volume of care provided rose by an average 2.2 percent per year. This was mainly because various groups of residents have been receiving more supplementary care in addition to basic care. This includes, for example, care for residents with senile dementia  and extra care for patients with rheumatism, Korsakov’s syndrome and non-congenital brain damage.

Volume of care in nursing and care homes

Antonio Chessa