ABSTRACT
In the sphere of social protection, long-term care (LTC) has gained political and public interest over the past few decades. Throughout the developed world, almost without exception, populations are ageing and LTC policies are evolving. A decline in capacity is part of a continuum and in some older persons, the decline may be preventable, delayed onsets, or reversible. Health and LTC systems are linked, often overlap, and encompass chronic and complex medical needs. Health services for older persons often involve all levels of health services from primary health care to tertiary, rehabilitation, and palliative care. LTC can be provided informally at home or formally through communities and institutions or residential programs. As countries with the greatest ageing population in Asia, Japan, and South Korea are at the forefront of the LTC policy movement and can provide useful lessons from a regional context. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
