Waiting list for nursing home admission gives limited insight of the problems. Study in handling of the waiting list and the consequences for the patients

The waiting list for nursing home admission is expected to remain unacceptably long. A study of the use and of possibly problematic consequences of the waiting list was described in a thesis. Despite long mean waiting periods and many problems (depressive symptoms, experiences of burden) already at the start of the waiting period, the majority of the informal caregivers were satisfied with the waiting times. This may be explained by a reticence to nursing home admission and by enlistment to the waiting list "out of precaution". Both a long and a short waiting period could be experienced as too long. Waiting list figures give insufficient insight in the "real" demand for nursing home care and in problematic waiting periods.