Prevention and Rehabilitation within Long-Term Care: Applying a Comprehensive Perspective

Abstract

In the light of demographic changes, governments and actors in health and social care systems are compelled to search for sustainable strategies to cope with the care needs of ageing populations (Colombo and Mercier, 2011) and a shrinking workforce in health and social care (Tjadens and Colombo, 2011). Therefore, an important element of policy debates and research is the focus on the potential of prevention and rehabilitation (P&R) for older people in order to postpone or prevent care needs. Prevention for older people so far is conceptualised mainly for healthier and younger older people, as can be observed in the European Union (EU)-financed project healthPROelderly (2006–2008) and the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (2012).¹ For those with existing long-term care (LTC) needs, the issue of prevention and rehabilitation have so far been given less attention in European countries; respective opportunities seem to be underestimated (Kümpers et al., 2010). Against this backdrop, approaches to prevention and rehabilitation for older people with varying kinds of long-term care needs must be explored and monitored and be placed on the health and social care agenda in the future; there is a need for development in research, policy and practice.