Rehabilitation instead of nursing care. Current state and future demand of geriatric rehabilitation

In Germany, the term "rehabilitation instead of nursing care" represents an established legal claim and is also an imperative part within the general concept of comprehensive healthcare provision, reflecting the ongoing demographic and epidemiological developments. This report gives an overview on the rationale, the principles, and organizational conception of geriatric rehabilitation. This is completed by an assessment of existing structures for service provision and future demands of specific geriatric rehabilitation and geriatric care. There are well-established possibilities and facilities to realize the legal claim "rehabilitation instead of nursing care." However, these possibilities have to be further optimized in order to detect need earlier and to make adequate use of the potential resources in the growing number of old-aged persons.