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Nursing homes in 10 nations: a comparison between countries and settings
M W Ribbe1, G Ljunggren, K Steel
1Department of General Practice, Nursing Home Medicine and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. MW.Ribbe.gpnh@med.vu.nl
Age and Ageing
|February 17, 1998
Summary
Long-term care systems vary significantly across developed nations, with no clear link between population aging and nursing home beds. Differences in organization, financing, and care responsibility drive institutionalization rates.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Developed nations face demographic shifts with increasing life expectancies.
- Population aging presents challenges for long-term care (LTC) systems globally.
- Understanding variations in LTC provision is crucial for policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare demographic trends in LTC systems across 10 countries.
- To analyze the structure and provision of LTC services.
- To identify recent trends in LTC utilization and organization.
Main Methods:
- Data compiled from government reports, statistical yearbooks, and academic journals.
- Supplemental data on LTC and nursing homes were gathered from expert colleagues.
- Comparative analysis of LTC systems in Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.
Main Results:
- All participating countries are developed with high life expectancies; Japan shows the fastest aging rate.
- Nursing home residency ranges from 2-5% of the elderly population.
- Iceland, the youngest population, has the highest institutionalization rate, while Sweden, the oldest, has a low rate.
Conclusions:
- No direct correlation exists between a country's aging status and its number of nursing home beds.
- Significant variations in institutionalization rates are attributed to differences in LTC organization, financing, and care sector responsibilities.
- Many countries are reforming health and social care systems in response to rapid population aging.