Research shows that long-term care is in an acute supply crisis

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The number of people over 80 in Switzerland will almost double in the next fifteen years. This also worsens the staffing situation in long-term care. More and more nurses are leaving the profession due to difficult working conditions. This in turn makes the urgently needed expansion of the provision of long-term care impossible.

This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the research project of the University of Applied Sciences of Italian-speaking Switzerland (Supsi). The project was initiated in 2021 by the Unia trade union. The study, which according to the company puts nurses at the center of research for the first time, was presented on Friday in Bern.

Is there a supply crisis looming?

Relationship work is the basis for high-quality care. However, the current funding regime makes this impossible and the rationing of care is detrimental to the mental health of healthcare providers. A media conference warned that there is a looming supply crisis in care and support for the elderly.

There was therefore a demand for an improvement in working conditions in the short term to reduce dropouts. More affordable options are also needed to prevent people from entering nursing homes too early. Demographic development definitely requires more financial resources.

Use of new technological options required

Three possible solutions were outlined to the media. Migrant women already play an important role in long-term care and must continue to do so. But it is an illusion to think that this is a long-term solution to the personnel problem.

There is also no question that more nurses need to be trained to meet the increasing demand. The fact that many new workers quickly left the sector shows that training alone is not enough. The use of new technological possibilities is promoted. However, robots have not yet made it possible to save manpower because they are maintenance-intensive. (SDA/oco)

Source:Blick