Our figure of the month 03/2020: Supply gaps in inpatient care?

Evaluation of the number of nursing homes in the Osnabrück region

In an ageing society like Germany's, the number of people in need of long-term care is also growing year by year. Ensuring competent care for those in need of nursing care is an immense challenge for many regions at present and probably also in the coming years. 

The supply of nursing facilities varies in Germany: in some places there is a high concentration of nursing homes, so that there are regional focuses in inpatient care. In the Osnabrück region, too, certain places are characterised by a high occupancy rate of nursing homes, while this infrastructure is completely lacking in other communities. In as many as 12 of the 35 towns and communities in the region there is no inpatient nursing care available.

In other towns and communities in the region – such as the city of Osnabrück, Bramsche or Georgsmarienhütte – a thin supply situation is becoming apparent, which is evident in comparison to the older resident population: Only one or two nursing homes are available in the above-mentioned towns for every 1000 inhabitants over 75 years of age. The over 75-year-olds are the ones with the highest need for nursing care: 70% of those in need of care fall into this age group.

In Melle, Bad Essen or Ostercappeln as well as three other towns in the district, the situation is only slightly different. On average, there are 1,000 inhabitants over 75 years old and up to three nursing homes. The highest supply of inpatient nursing services – in relation to the older population – is found in the towns of Bad Laer, Ankum and Gehrde. In relation to 1000 inhabitants over 75 years, up to six nursing homes are located here.

The Osnabrück region is thus characterised by an uneven supply of care across the area. The lack of nursing homes restricts the freedom of choice of those in need of inpatient care with regard to their place of residence. Demographic change will continue to increase the demand for nursing care services, so that the pressure on the nursing care market will increase. The local authorities are obliged to take care of this issue too. It was only in January that the regional nursing care conference in Hanover decided that Lower Saxony wants to hand over more responsibility to the local authorities in the nursing care field.

More information on the care industry in Germany can be found in the recently published GWS discussion paper.

Other figures can be found here.

Go back