Successful ageing in long-term care: International comparison and lesson learning

Quality of life is one of the main concerns in long-term care amongst ageing populations in many countries.  This problem is historically unique and increases the demand for research material.  This study looks at how different societies promote or fail to promote successful ageing of long-term care of older people, and considers how countries may learn from one another in their search for solutions.  The three countries studied (England, the Netherlands and Taiwan) correspond to Esping-Anderson’s three types of welfare system (Esping-Anderson, 1990).  In addition, the Asian-European dimension has been employed as it is a neglected one. 

Data sources included conceptual, empirical and statistical documents on long-term care of older people.  Moreover, this research used identical qualitative cross-national research methods on three levels in each country: national, county and municipal.  A total of 142 interviews were included in the study.  The aim of this study was broadly to rank the three welfare systems where there were clear differences but to qualify this by pointing out the complexities and difficulties of mixed economy comparisons.

The overall conclusion is that the Netherlands provides higher quality care to older people, thus confirming Esping-Andersen’s finding about the superiority of social democratic systems.  In reviewing current policies and research in needs and successful ageing, this qualitative comparative study has focused on needs, social inclusion, power and autonomy, care resources as well as partnership as crucial concepts in care systems and discovered good practice in each and lessons to be learnt.