Flanders' nursing homes will require an additional 7,000 rooms by 2030 to accommodate the growing elderly population, revealed Margot Cloet, head of the umbrella organization
Zorgnet-Icuro, in an interview with Gazet Van Antwerpen on Monday. Cloet emphasized that independent senior citizens will no longer be admitted to these homes.
With the Flemish population rapidly aging—currently standing at 220,000 individuals over 85 years old and projected to reach almost 300,000 in a decade and 350,000 by 2040—there's a pressing need for further measures. Zorgnet-Icuro proposes reallocating nursing home beds from seniors who are still self-reliant.
The organization aims to relocate the least dependent individuals from nursing homes, constituting around 15% of the current residents. Cloet suggested alternative elder care forms, like home and family care, for this demographic.
The most significant surge in the aging population is expected after 2030. Cloet stressed the urgency for Flanders to take proactive measures immediately: "The Flemish government needs to act now, enabling care providers to plan effectively. This transcends political decisions; it's an imperative necessity." Photo by Etan J. Tal, Wikimedia commons.