THE ELDERLY PATIENTS IN THE GERMAN HOSPITAL SETTING: FACTS AND FIGURES

The demographic evolution and its consequences – population ageing - have been the topic of multiple research studies and analyses in many countries, industries or political regimes. Health care systems have been faced with questions regarding future financing, organization and resource allocation under the impact of the demographic evolution. This time is the hospital sector in focus. Analyzing the situation in German hospitals on the basis of recent, detailed statistical data and studies, this paper provides information, data and figures on elderly hospitalized patients with regard to costs, diagnoses and operations and presents briefly implications of the demographic evolution and of an ageing population for hospitals.