Long-term care research and policy

This article provides a framework for understanding how long-term care (LTC) research contributes to policy, develops a typology of research contributions to policy with examples of each type, and suggests ways to ensure that contributions continue in the future. The article draws on in-depth interviews with LTC experts working at the interface between research and policy, as well as a small, informal Internet survey and the relevant political science and health policy literature. LTC research makes important contributions to policy, but its contributions easily go unrecognized because they are subtle and often depend on research investments made many years before policy is affected. Thus, it is important to consider what investments in LTC research initiatives and infrastructure are needed to ensure the future contributions of research to policy and to identify barriers to funding such investments. A number of steps that researchers can take to enhance the future contribution of research to LTC policy are proposed.