Duration:
Since 01 April 2020

Research Team:
Roland Becker (Head of project)
Prof. Dr. Heinz Rothgang (Head of project)

Roland Becker
Franziska Heinze
Benedikt Preuß

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of 2020 has had a profound impact on society and the healthcare system worldwide. According to the Robert Koch Institute, as of June 2, 2020, there have been 182,028 diagnosed cases of infection in Germany, with 8,522 deaths. Older adults in need of care are particularly affected by the pandemic due to their age and vulnerability.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the prevalence of COVID-19, the available human and material resources, the organizational response to the situation, and the support needs of stationary, ambulatory, and partially stationary care facilities.

Method: To achieve this, nearly 18,000 care facilities were contacted via email and asked to participate in a cross-sectional study using an online survey with both quantitative and qualitative elements. The data were analyzed descriptively.

Results: A total of 824 nursing homes, 701 nursing services, and 96 partially stationary facilities participated in the survey. Both stationary and ambulatory care facilities reported a high impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately half of the nationwide deaths were among nursing home residents (49%), and around 12% were among clients of ambulatory nursing services. Furthermore, COVID-19 cases were reported among staff members in almost one-fifth of nursing homes and one-tenth of ambulatory nursing services. The pandemic has led to increased staff absences in both the stationary and ambulatory sectors. Additionally, there has been a shortage of personal protective equipment, although it has decreased compared to the early stages of the pandemic. In the ambulatory sector, it is evident that the care of individuals in need of care is at risk or unstable due to the loss of day care services, limited availability of live-in caregivers, and reduced utilization of in-kind benefits.

Discussion/Conclusion: Both the ambulatory and stationary settings face developments that could lead to problems in ensuring high-quality care in the medium term. This is due to increased care demands combined with a shortage of personnel. Study participants expressed the need for measures to improve the situation and prepare for a possible second wave of the pandemic. These measures include providing an adequate supply of protective materials, better remuneration for caregivers, and the development of nationwide and practical recommendations for handling the situation.

Duration:
Since 01 April 2020

Research Team:
Roland Becker (Head of project)
Prof. Dr. Heinz Rothgang (Head of project)

Roland Becker
Franziska Heinze
Benedikt Preuß

Project Type:
Personal project