Community-based care: back to the future!

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Home- and community-based care have a long history globally.
• These services are a crucial part of the modern healthcare continuum.
• Formal and informal support systems exist within these care models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the evolving roles of community health workers.
• To emphasize the need for effective recruitment, training, and support strategies.
• To advocate for a shift towards community-centered health and wellness.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of historical and current trends in home- and community-based care.
• Examination of the expanding roles and skill requirements for community workers.
• Review of the changing economic landscape influencing healthcare delivery.

Main Results:

• Community health services encompass a wide spectrum of care, from professional to voluntary.
• Organizations face challenges in managing a diverse workforce.
• Health is increasingly viewed as a community concern, necessitating new approaches.

Conclusions:

• Non-traditional service delivery models are essential for future community-based healthcare.
• A strategic focus on maintaining health, not just treating illness, is critical.
• Policy-makers and providers must adapt to a community-focused healthcare paradigm.