Long-term care financing: drivers of the demand for long-term care

What is driving the demand for long-term care in low- and middle-income countries?

The number of people aged 65 years and older will increase in middle-income countries, where most older people will be living by 2050. However, many people in low- and middle-income countries will experience the onset of age-related health problems before the age of 65 years.

The WHO Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre – WKC) teamed up with WHO’s Departments on Health Governance and Financing, and Ageing to produce a series of research briefs on Financing LTC: Lessons for Low- and Middle-Income Countries to disseminate key research findings for policy-makers in these countries about the policies, systems and institutions that are needed to ensure that older people and those with age-related disabilities get needed LTC without falling into financial hardship.

In low- and middle-income settings that do have formal LTC, the costs of LTC shift to families and communities. Informal caregivers, primarily women, may need to reduce their working hours or leave the labour force prematurely. This puts pressure on the economy and household resources. In addition, the availability of informal caregivers has dwindled as fertility and family sizes decrease and women have more opportunities in the formal workforce. Without formal LTC, there is also pressure on the health care system where older people seek care where no alternatives exist. This can increase healthcare costs and offer suboptimal care for older adults.