The rapid increase in the older population is already resulting in a growing demand for long-term care services (long-term care, hereinafter LTC). On the one hand, healthcare is improving due to advances in science and research and increased investments in health services; on the other hand, we are witnessing increasing health inequalities among vulnerable population groups. Among them are older adults, for whom access to some services becomes problematic, even impossible. A large part of older people suffers from multiple chronic diseases (cardiovascular, oncological, metabolic, respiratory), and has mobility problems. Behavioral disorders, problems with orientation, fear, anxiety, depression, feelings of loneliness and neglect from family and surroundings are often added. All this worsens their quality of life, which they cannot restore through their own efforts, but only through care ensured by society.
All European countries expect that with a growing number of older dependent people, costs for formal and informal long-term care of chronically ill people will rise dramatically. The related increasing financial burden already requires the most efficient use of available resources today, i.e., the effort to assemble, as optimally as possible, the spectrum of long-term care services for the individual and for whole communities so that they meet three basic attributes: they are geographically accessible, high quality, and financially affordable for both the individual and society.
Scientific and research institutions from 14 countries in Europe, including Slovakia, set out to develop a concept and methodology for describing and analyzing LTC for older people in Europe and to formulate a set of tools for describing and analyzing the LTC system for older people. Particular attention is paid to the assessment and monitoring of care quality, prevention and rehabilitation, support for informal caregivers, and targeted governance and financing of LTC systems.
According to WHO, long-term care is the provision of health, social and personal services on a repeated or continuous basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. This care can be provided in institutional settings or in the individual’s home. LTC services usually include symptomatic and maintenance treatment, rehabilitation and personal assistance for people of all age groups, although in practice this is mainly about older people.
By combining the professional and financial capacities of WHO/EURO (within the Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic) and the Institute of Work and Family Research (Slovak representative in the INTERLINKS project), the first part of the publication Long-term care for older people in Slovakia and Europe was created, with a focus on informal care and quality. The second part, scheduled for publication next year, will address LTC governance and financing, prevention and rehabilitation in LTC.
The publication has three parts: 1. Long-term care for older people in Slovakia and Europe (1) 2. Informal care 3. Quality
Link to the full publication in PDF (4,80MB): http://www.who.sk/images/stories/Interlinks.pdf
Zdroj: Kancelária Svetovej zdravotníckej organizácie v Slovenskej republike