The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a “Framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care”. The framework was developed in consistency with the existing strategy, action plan and frameworks on healthy ageing, and was based on the latest evidence and consultations with a range of stakeholders including WHO’s expert advisory group. Through the framework, WHO aims to provide guidance by highlighting key components of long-term care systems to support countries in their journey to establish sustainable and equitable long-term care provision.
The framework is primarily intended to be used by governments and policymakers and provides a checklist which helps to assess existing long-term care systems, identify potential gaps, and support planning for implementation. As outlined in the new framework, long-term care systems and services should:
• Be person centred and aligned with the person’s values and preferences
• Optimise functional ability over time and compensate for loss of intrinsic capacity
• Be provided in the community
• Provide integrated services in a continuum
• Include services that empower the older person
• Emphasise support for carers and care workers.
The framework can be downloaded at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240038844
