Dimensions of Long-Term Care Management: An Introduction

Long-term care is one of the fastest-growing segments in the healthcare industry. Societal changes, including the aging of the boomers and an evolution in attitudes toward aging and retirement, will continue to propel long-term care issues to the forefront. With an emphasis on the trends and developments that are transforming long-term care, this book introduces readers to the options available in care settings, programs, and services. The second half of the book relates aspects of management—including leadership, human resources, marketing, regulatory and legal issues, and financing—to long-term care. The authors emphasize the need for flexibility in the long-term care system, recognizing that consumers may need different combinations of services and settings as they age. The importance of technology in care provision is also highlighted. Topics include: residential, home, and community-based care services; cultural diversity and the delivery of services; chronic illness, with a focus on Alzheimer's and related dementias; hospice, palliative, and end-of-life care; consumer education and technology as self-help tools; the design of long-term care facilities; management issues—human resources, marketing, legal, and ethical issues; long-term care financing sources; and regulation of long-term care providers.