Mauricio Matus-Lopez1, Camilo Cid Pedraza2. 1. Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Dpto. Economía, Métodos Cuantitativos e Historia Económica, Ctra. de Utrera, Sevilla, Spain. Electronic address: mmatlop@upo.es. 2. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Departamento de Salud Pública, Primer Piso, Santiago, Chile.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Uruguay is the Latin American country with the largest share of elderly population and it has the greatest pressure for formal long-term care services in the region. For this reason, last year the government approved a law creating a National System of Care. OBJECTIVE: This article describes and analyzes the long-term care policy in the recently created National System of Care of Uruguay. METHOD: The Director of the National System of Care was asked to complete a questionnaire with a description and management of long-term care programs. This information was completed with official information and peer-reviewed articles of long-term care in Uruguay. RESULTS: The National System of Care includes long-term care services. The main services are carried out through a cash-for-care system for home-based services, but in the future the benefits will expand to day centers and residential and nursing homes. CONCLUSION: The system follows international trends in terms of universality, services, and regulations dealing with care. However, the current and future financing is low, and this condition could undermine its development capacity.
BACKGROUND: Uruguay is the Latin American country with the largest share of elderly population and it has the greatest pressure for formal long-term care services in the region. For this reason, last year the government approved a law creating a National System of Care. OBJECTIVE: This article describes and analyzes the long-term care policy in the recently created National System of Care of Uruguay. METHOD: The Director of the National System of Care was asked to complete a questionnaire with a description and management of long-term care programs. This information was completed with official information and peer-reviewed articles of long-term care in Uruguay. RESULTS: The National System of Care includes long-term care services. The main services are carried out through a cash-for-care system for home-based services, but in the future the benefits will expand to day centers and residential and nursing homes. CONCLUSION: The system follows international trends in terms of universality, services, and regulations dealing with care. However, the current and future financing is low, and this condition could undermine its development capacity.
Authors: Agustin Ibáñez; Stefanie Danielle Pina-Escudero; Katherine L Possin; Yakeel T Quiroz; Fernando Aguzzoli Peres; Andrea Slachevsky; Ana Luisa Sosa; Sonia M D Brucki; Bruce L Miller Journal: Lancet Healthy Longev Date: 2021-03-31