Expansion of Nursing Homes in Düsseldorf
In the heart of Düsseldorf, city leaders and healthcare providers gathered at the town hall on July 15, 2021, for the first-ever care summit. Mayor Thomas Geisel, City Director Burkhard Hintzsche, Social Affairs Director, and Planning Director Cornelia Zuschke, along with representatives of welfare associations, private providers, and other key stakeholders, came together to discuss the urgent need for more elderly care facilities in the city.
While the federal government has allocated EUR 1.5 billion for hospital infrastructure improvements nationwide in 2025, no specific plans for constructing new care facilities in Düsseldorf to meet the increasing demand have been publicly detailed. However, the city administration is actively seeking solutions to address this challenge.
According to the social report, 6,330 care places will be needed in Düsseldorf by 2025 due to demographic change. Currently, there are 4,858 care places in various facilities across the city, and through ongoing renovation and new construction projects, the number of care places is expected to increase by around 550 by 2025.
Expanding existing care facilities, such as annexes or expanding existing buildings, is a quick and cost-effective way to create additional care places. The city is also considering innovative housing projects, like multi-generational houses, to create attractive living spaces for the elderly and those in need of care.
Private providers' construction projects will be analysed for the creation of care facilities, and a list of available municipal construction sites will be provided to stakeholders. City Director Burkhard Hintzsche emphasised the need to continue expanding the number of care places to meet the increasing number of elderly people in Düsseldorf.
Henric Peeters, CEO of Caritas Düsseldorf, expressed enthusiasm about the city's approach to care, stating that it's important to offer attractive and affordable facilities for the people of Düsseldorf. Possible solutions and joint projects were discussed at the care summit, with a second summit scheduled to take place at the end of August.
Mayor Thomas Geisel stated that care is an important issue, and that the city has a responsibility to tackle the challenge of demographic change. The city administration encourages providers to suggest improvements and wishes regarding care facilities. Current projects are being planned on Pariser Street, Merowinger Street, and Werstener Street. The first step to create additional care capacity involves checking if current construction projects can be optimised and accelerated.
A notable new construction project in Düsseldorf is the Euref campus near the airport, which includes facilities at climate-neutral standards and will host tenants related to healthcare technology. However, this is not a care facility for patient care; rather, commercial/office space for healthcare-related companies.
As the city of Düsseldorf continues to grow and its population ages, the need for quality elderly care facilities becomes increasingly important. The care summit is just the beginning of the city's efforts to address this critical issue and ensure that its residents have access to the care they need.
