A BRIEF REVIEW OF ELDER CARE IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE OVER THE LAST CENTURY

摘要

>Objective: Elderly care has changes tremendously in the last decades over U.S. and European countries. Although institutionalization of elderly is decreasing on some regions, largest portion of long term funding still goes to institutions. >Design: Extensive literature review >Results: Passing of Social Security ACT in 1935, reshaped elder care. Nursing homes numbers started to increase and more elderly were institutionalized. However, over the recent years, nursing home population is decreasing. Medicaid funds are also shifting toward home and community- based services.In Europe, percentage of institutionalized elderly can be as low as 1% in Poland and Russia to as high as 9% in Iceland. Still the largest portion of long term care funding goes to institutions. >Conclusion: The largest portion of elder care funds are still going to institutions. However, the transition toward supporting home and community based services have started in some regions.