Policy Brief: Ensuring quality long-term care for older people, March 2005

Demand for long-term care for older people is set to rise steeply in OECD countries as the baby-boom generation reaches old age. But can they be sure of receiving quality care at a price they can afford? People in need of long-term care increasingly demand high-quality care, and differences in the quality and availability of such services across OECD countries show some are not getting it. How can governments in OECD countries respond to the growing demand for these services? What do they need to do to improve access to long-term care, improve quality of services and make care affordable?

The OECD has examined how long-term care systems in nineteen countries have adapted to the need for change. This Policy Brief summarises the lessons learnt from countries that have undertaken major reforms to long-term care services over the past decade. It analyses the level and structure of expenditure, based on new data and evidence on cross-country differences, and the crucial question, who will pay for these care services? It also looks at their experiences with programmes that provide a choice of care options, including cash to family carers.