Long-Term Care in the 21st Century: Perspectives from Around the Asia-Pacific Rim

Who pays for long-term care? Discover the unique approaches of seven countries around the Pacific Rim!

Long-Term Care in the Twenty-First Century discusses policies and programs for long-term care in seven countries around the Asia-Pacific Rim: the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Each country is covered in two chapters, one to examine the philosophy and values that underlie its approaches to long-term care, the second to discuss its systems of service delivery. These thoughtful analyses, backed up with facts and figures, explain program successes and failures in the context of demographic and social trends and with reference to the differing political systems across the region.

Its breadth of perspective and insightful examination of cultural differences make Long-Term Care in the Twenty-First Century an important contribution to the international comparative study of aging. The programs in the United States, Australia, and Canada offer a fascinating contrast with the longer-established and very different programs in the Asian countries, including Japan, the world’s oldest country.

Long-Term Care in the Twenty-First Century provides practical information on essential gerontological issues for each country, including:

• financing arrangements
• development of client classification systems
• case management in both residential and community-based systems
• key source documents, references, and Web sites
• political and cultural influences
• home-based and family caregiving
  
  This valuable book provides a critical record of developments in the current transition period. This multicultural perspective contributes a chance for all countries to learn from the experience of others in dealing with a problem that is increasingly important as the world population ages. Long-Term Care in the Twenty-First Century is an essential resource for scholars, service providers, policymakers, and anyone concerned with care of the aged, not only in Pacific Rim countries but around the world.