Implementing long-term care systems in the Americas: a regional strategy

• Main Authors: Pablo Villalobos Dintrans (Author), Mallika Mathur (Author), Emmanuel González-Bautista (Author), Jorge Browne (Author), Carolina Hommes (Author), Enrique Vega (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Pan American Health Organization, 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1020-4989; 1680-5348; 10.26633/RPSP.2021.86
• Keywords: long-term care; health policy; health systems; social security; health planning; americas; Medicine; R; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, Vol 45, Iss 86, Pp 1-7 (2021)

The Region of the Americas is facing accelerated demographic and epidemiological changes. As these trends will continue in future years, long-term care needs are expected to rise. How can countries respond to these challenges? We propose that countries in the Region should invest in the implementation of long-term care systems. Considering the heterogeneity in the Region, we propose a strategy based on three components: (i) understanding the problem; (ii) thinking about solutions; and (iii) building support and consensus. Depending on each country's needs and capacities, these three elements suggest short-term and long-term actions and goals, from generating better information on long-term care needs to the implementation of long-term care systems. Longterm care is a relevant issue for the Region today. The task is challenging, but countries need to embrace it and move forward before it is too late.