An ecological study on the relationship between supply of beds in long-term care institutions in Italy and potential care needs for the elderly

摘要

BackgroundThe ageing population in Europe is putting an ever increasing demand on the long-term care (LTC) services provided by these countries. This study analyses the relationship between the LTC institutional supply of beds and potential care needs, taking into account the social and health context, the supply of complementary and alternative services, along with informal care.