Care services, 2000, preliminary figures

Of the 42 900 beds in institutions for the elderly and disabled, 36 100 are beds in nursing homes, an increase of just over 400 beds since 1999. As in previous years, the number of nursing home beds has risen, while the number of beds in old peoples homes is declining, with 6 100 beds left at the end of 2000. There are now a total of 1043 institutions, an increase of six institutions since 1999.

In 2000 the institutions had more than 37 700 rooms, of which 86 per cent were single rooms. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the percentage of single rooms has increased by 7.3 percentage points. By the end of the year 42 000 persons lived in institutions. Nearly 75 per cent of the residents were over 80 years, while close to 4 per cent was 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.

Increase in the number of dwellings

As for the institutions, the number of dwellings for elderly and disabled users increased from 1999 to 2000. The number of these dwellings grew rapidly in the second half of the 1990s. A total of 46 400 dwellings were registered in the statistics in 2000, and more than three-fourths are owned by municipalities (local governments). Among the dwellings were 13 100 care services-linked units built with a Norwegian State Housing Bank start-up subsidy. The number of these units has increased by nearly 7 700 since the first time they were registered in the statistics in 1997.

At the end of the year, 45 500 persons lived in dwellings for the aged and disabled. Younger residents, i.e. those under 67 years of age, account for nearly 30 per cent of all residents of such dwellings, while those who are 80 years and older account for 43 per cent.

Increase in number of users of home based services

Just over 159 500 persons received assistance from the home services at the close of 2000, an increase of 2 100 from the year before. In contrast to residents of institutions, where a minority is younger than 67 years of age, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of the users of home services were in this age category. Close to 40 per cent of the users receive practical assistance as the only means of help, i.e. home help. 6 000 users received care from home help or home nursing for more than 35.5 hours per week. This is an increase of 400 persons compared to 1999.

19 600 persons received special support by the end of 2000. 13 400 of these where under 50 years of age. 7 900 persons received respite care. Nearly two thirds of the recipients where aged 50 or below.

Nearly 6 300 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.

Steady increase in man-years

Man-years in the nursing and care services increased by 2 800 from the end of 1999 to the end of 2000. In 2000 nursing and care services the total number of employees equalled 89 200 man-years, or around 0.44 man-years per user. Man-years in proportion to the population over 67 years of age also shows an increasing trend, from 140 man-years per 1 000 population in 1999 to 145 in 2000.

Tables:

• Table 1 Beds in institutions for the aged and disabled, by type of ward. 1996-2000
• Table 2 Rooms in institutions for the aged and disabled, by type of room. 1991-2000. Per cent(N=number of rooms)
• Table 3 Residents in institutions for the elderly and disabled, by age.1992-2000
• Table 4 Residents in dwellings for the aged and disabled.Number of dwellings.1994-2000
• Table 5 Users of home-based services, by age.1992-2000
• Table 6 Man-years within the nursing and care services.1992-2000
• Table 7 Beds in institutions for the elderly and disabled.1991-2000
• Table 8 Users of home based services, by kind of service. 1992-2000