The Sustainable Development Agenda Needs to Include Long-term Care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Health Policy

Background:

• Global populations are aging rapidly, shifting disease burden to chronic conditions.
• This demographic shift poses complex challenges for national governments worldwide.
• Addressing the needs of older populations sustainably is vital for 21st-century socioeconomic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline critical issues governments face in establishing sustainable and equitable long-term care systems.
• To highlight the World Health Organization's (WHO) framework and strategies for global action on aging and health.
• To emphasize the need for government stewardship in ensuring accessible, affordable, and dignified long-term care.

Main Methods:

• Review of the WHO Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health.
• Analysis of the definition and components of long-term care.
• Identification of key government responsibilities and proposed WHO strategies for long-term care systems.

Main Results:

• Long-term care encompasses health and social services, requiring coordination across sectors.
• Government stewardship is essential for accessible, affordable, person-centered care, and support for caregivers and the workforce.
• WHO proposes strategies focusing on system infrastructure, workforce capacity, and integrated, person-centered care.

Conclusions:

• Achieving sustainable and equitable long-term care systems requires addressing critical issues at all government levels.
• Effective long-term care systems are fundamental for socioeconomic development in the context of global population aging.
• Implementing WHO-proposed strategies is key to meeting the needs of older populations with dignity and maintaining their intrinsic capacity.