Structure, aims and prospects of PRS in Germany

The development of ERS as an offering in the outpatient services sector is based on the consideration that the proportion of elderly people in the total population has enormously increased during the last few years and will continue to increase until the year 2000. Besides the necessary inpatient institutions, it is absolutely necessary to offer outpatient services to meet the needs and requirements of elderly, sick and handicapped people. This is also intended by the legislative bodies which have established by law the priority of outpatient services. ERS represents an important element of this general conception. One cannot do this without high quality standards. Furthermore, ERS must always be offered in connection with other outpatient social services.