Developments in Long-Term Care for Older People between Residential and Community-Based Services

Population ageing is a worldwide phenomenon, and the safeguard of the health and well-being of the increasing number of seniors has become one of main issues on political agendas. Currently, in most industrialised societies more and more frail older people tend to live alone at home, without cohabiting relatives. When this living arrangement is not possible, in case of increasing functional limitations, older people need support to continue ageing in place. If family help is not available, personal care assistants, or home care services, are essential and, when these are not feasible or sufficient, moving into a nursing home becomes the most common alternative. Moreover, older people with physical and cognitive limitations strongly need integrated health and social care services, including general practitioners, medical specialists and different kinds of home-based supports. Long-term care issues of ageing people represent therefore crucial challenges for policy makers and care professionals, especially in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A possible source of help could come from Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), as these may facilitate care and cure at a distance. On the background of these considerations, this Special Issue welcomes contributions reporting both qualitative and quantitative (or mixed) studies, addressing formal care for older people in a multidisciplinary perspective, and particularly if they offer a comparative/cross-country perspective, without excluding insights at local and national level. All typologies of research papers – theoretical, methodological and empirical ones - as well as case reports are welcome, too as are papers focusing on policy issues.