Overview

• The 2025 AOK hospital report reveals that over 21% of inpatients in Hesse and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are aged 80 or older, a sharp rise since 2005.
• Nearly 27% of senior hospital admissions in Hesse in 2022 were deemed unnecessary, reflecting a need for improved outpatient care.
• Hospitals face severe staffing shortages, leaving them ill-equipped to handle the complex medical and nursing needs of very elderly patients.
• The lack of preparedness and personnel increases the risk of complications for seniors, who often require specialized and intensive care.
• Experts call for systemic reforms, including expanding ambulatory and primary care infrastructures to reduce hospital burdens and improve elderly care.