Samenvatting

By 2050, the proportion of the world’s population that is over 60 will nearly double from 12% to 22%, representing nearly 2 billion older people worldwide. In response, the United Nations declared 2021–2030 to be the Decade of Healthy Aging, aiming to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live. Thus, Long-Term Post-Acute Care (LTPAC) systems that provide care for older adults are a significant global area of interest. In this paper, we use the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of LTPAC: “national systems that ensure integrated long-term care that is appropriate, affordable, accessible and upholds the rights of older people and carers alike.” In this definition, LTPAC providers include home care and hospice, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. LTPAC systems are essential because 70% of older adults will require long term care (e.g., assistance in their activities of daily living [e.g., moving around, bathing, and feeding]) over the course of their long lives. Within LTPAC communities, older adults’ activities are supported through informal caregivers (i.e., family, friends, neighbors) and healthcare professionals to ensure that people maintain the highest quality of life, according to their preferences, with the greatest degree of independence, autonomy, participation, personal fulfillment, and dignity.