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Nursing home shortage and hospital bed-blocking

Author

Listed:
  • Bergmann, Lea
  • Heger, Dörte
  • Wuckel, Christiane

Abstract

A hospital stay dramatically increases the risk that an elderly person will require long-term care. Due to increasing staff shortages in German nursing homes, patients who require nursing home care directly after a hospital stay often struggle to find a nursing home bed. This paper studies how hospital length of stay differs between care dependent individuals requiring and not requiring a nursing home bed, controlling for potential health differences between these groups. We find that the need for a nursing home bed is associated with approximately a 40% increase in length of stay. Since hospital care is much more expensive than nursing home care, bed-blocking is not only a concern for the patients but also for public policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Bergmann, Lea & Heger, Dörte & Wuckel, Christiane, 2024. "Nursing home shortage and hospital bed-blocking," Ruhr Economic Papers 1108, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:306838
    DOI: 10.4419/96973286
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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