Care for older people, long-term care

As a rule, older people in need of nursing as well as people suffering from chronic diseases require long-term, multidimensional treatment and assistance. This includes not only medical interventions but also measures that will maintain or restore their functional abilities, as well as psychological and social assistance. Currently 70 000 places are available for long-term care in care and nursing homes; also, 10 000 staff of mobile services are estimated to work in this field.

The focal area of care for older people and long-term care deals with and evaluates the current supply situation in this field. It deals with planning projects and public relations work informing the general population about issues of health care, psychological and social care for older people in need of nursing as well as people with chronic diseases. All areas and levels of care are taken into account, the field of acute care as well as mobile, partly inpatient and inpatient services of long-term treatment.

Due to demographic developments and rising costs of long-term treatment, great demand for basic research and planning is expected. According to OECD data, expenditure for long-term nursing in Austria comprises between 1 and 1.5% of GDP (volume: EUR 3 100 million). Estimates state that by 2050 the share of public spending for long-term nursing in the GDP will have doubled.

Studies in this area form the basis for the further development of services and strategies of prevention in the field of nursing. The continuity of health and social care services poses a special challenge in this respect. Therefore it is essential to create and establish a nationwide unified up-to-date basis for collecting data and for planning as well as quality standards of care in the entire field of care for older people and long-term care.

Contact: Elisabeth Pochobradsky

 Beschäftigte im Alten- und Behindertenbereich (2007; BMASK)
 Demenzhandbuch (2008; BMASK)