The development in local authority services for the elderly

Services for elderly people in Denmark are managed by the local authorities. Expenses for the elderly account for 65% of the local authority expenses in the social sector. During recent years, the Danish government has made increasing demands on the local authorities to limit public resources. The number of elderly people is still increasing, particularly within the oldest age groups; an increasing number of elderly suffer from senile dementia, and sick elderly people remain in their own homes, due largely to changes in discharge practice by the public hospitals. Therefore, the local authorities have tried new ways and have modified the level of service for the elderly within unchanged financial limits. In order to maintain a good level of service, it has become necessary to increase the efficiency and flexibility in the use of resources and to transfer a number of tasks to both the staff and the elderly themselves. The article gives a broad survey of the Danish services for the elderly and the local authorities' experience with the restructuring.