Erfurt (dpa/th) - The number of people in need of care in Thuringia rose again at the end of last year. On December 15, 2021, 166,453 people in need of care were counted in the Free State - 30,861 (22.8 percent) more than on the reference date in December 2019, as the State Statistical Office announced on Wednesday. In 2019, an increase of 17.3 percent was recorded compared to 2017.
Measured against the total population, 7.9 percent of Thuringians were in need of care at the end of last year. Women made up the largest proportion at 61.4 percent, around every 10th Thuringian is affected by the need for care. According to the information provided, the care statistics are collected every two years.
According to the information, most of those in need of care were in the age group between 80 and 89 years. Almost half of the women to be cared for (48,089 people or 47.1 percent) were represented here. In the case of men in need of care, the proportion was slightly more than a third (2,904 cases or 34.1 percent).
The medical service of the health insurance company or a commissioned independent report assigned 12.8 percent to care level 1, 40.8 percent to care level 2 and 29.8 percent to care level 3. According to the information, the most severe impairments were found in 11.9 percent (care level 4).
The highest level of care, 5, with special requirements for nursing care, was found at 4.7 percent. For 37 men and women, the classification had not yet been completed by the survey date.
