Dementia is one of the key challenges of the German healthcare system. Around 1.7 million people are already affected, and this number is set to rise. Hospital stays pose a considerable risk for this patient group: they are associated with an increased incidence of delirium, functional impairment, and an accelerated need for care. Nevertheless, there is a lack of dementia-sensitive hospital structures across the board. Preventive strategies to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, binding minimum standards in clinics, systematic diagnosis recording, and cross-sector discharge management are needed to ensure security of care and quality of life.

BARMER

DOI: 10.30433/krankenhaus.2025.02