September 2021 to December 2024
Lead research institutions: EURO Observatory for Health Policies and Systems, London School of Economics and Political Science; Kyoto University School of Public Health, Japan; Dalhousie University, Canada; National Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan; Harvard School of Public Health
Other participating institutions: Department of Health System Governance and Financing, WHO Geneva Headquarters; Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing; WHO European and other WHO Regional Offices
Global
Background
Extending access and improving quality of long-term care (LTC) services are sound public investments that can result in economic and societal benefits. However, financing long-term care poses challenges. There is a need to better understand how countries can establish financing systems for long-term care to ensure that older people get needed care without falling into financial hardship.
Goals
To produce a series of WHO briefs summarizing the evidence to inform policies and investments financing long-term care in low-and middle-income countries, and a book about the importance of investing in long-term care produced jointly with EURO and the European Observatory for Health Systems and Policy.
Methods
Research is being undertaken to collect evidence to inform the WHO Financing Recommendations for Long-Term Care. The separate research papers will be issued as background papers. The background papers include the gender equity implications of financing long-term care, public finance and budgeting for long-term care, a rapid scoping review of important policy and systems initiatives for long-term care financing, and a review of issues in long-term care financing and implications for low- and middle-income countries. This research will also be informed by WKC previous research quantifying unmet need for care for older persons. This research also builds on work with the EURO observatory for health policies and systems in publishing an investment case for LTC in cooperation with academics globally.
Background papers and briefs (under development)
Background paper 1 and research brief: issues in long-term care financing.
Background paper 2. Lessons learned from the Kansai region of Japan
Background paper 3.Gender equity implications for long-term care financing
Saito T, Jin X, Noguchi T, Komatsu A, Kanamori M. Inequities by sex and gender in access to, and affordability of, long-term care: modifiable factors. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/373610. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Background paper 4. How countries publicly finance long-term care
Background paper 5. Rapid scoping review about initiatives to improve coverage, quality, financial protection and financial sustainability in long-term care
Macdonald M, Langman E, Caruso J. Initiatives to improve the coverage, quality, financial protection and financial sustainability of long-term care: a rapid scoping review. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/373547. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Research brief series. Long-term care financing: lessons for low- and middle-income settings
Brief 1. What is driving the demand for long-term care?
Brief 2. How do countries pay for long-term care?
Brief 3. What are the approaches in determining population coverage for long-term care?
Brief 4. What long-term care services will be covered?
Brief 5. How have countries aligned financing and delivery of long-term care services?
Brief 6. How have countries ensured financial protection for the poor?
Brief 7. How do countries promote quality and value in long-term care?
Brief 8. How have countries ensured financial sustainability for long-term care?
Forthcoming in 2024
Cylus J et al The Care Dividend: why and how countries should invest in long-term care. Cambridge University Press. 2024.
Related Publications
Barber SL, Ong P, Han ZA. (2020). Long-term care in Ageing Populations. In: Haring R, Kickbusch K, Ganten D, Moeti M (eds) Handbook of Global Health, Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05325-3_65-1 LTC_chapter