Adequacy of long-term care services to the needs of older persons: A qualitative perspective

The accelerated aging of the population generates increased pressures to ensure long-term care (LTC) services for the persons in need. The aim of this article is to analyse the adequacy of long-term care services to the needs of older persons based on a qualitative approach. A special focus of the article is dedicated to the analysis of the barriers that limit access to care, as well as to explore how these challenges shape the expectations of beneficiaries. Socioeconomic factors, geographical factors, limited supply in terms of LTC services, the quality of services, negative image with regard to long-term care services, especially in case of residential one, are the main barriers that limit the access to long-term care services. The study contributes to a better understanding of the correspondence between policy frameworks and the needs of older adults in Romania. Ultimately, the findings are expected to inform the development of more responsive and person-cantered long-term care models that can effectively meet the demands of an aging population.