Older adults in the Polish healthcare system

Introduction. The ageing of population increases demand for healthcare, long-term care and measures supporting independence. This review analysed current legal and organizational solutions for the healthcare of older adults in Poland, focusing on pharmaceutical policy, palliative and hospice care, special geriatric care and long-term care coordination. Materials and methods. A structured narrative review of the literature and legal acts was performed. Publications from 2019–2026 were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases using the terms: senior, health-care system, geriatric care, senior policy, palliative care, free medicines, healthcare services. Legal acts were identified in the Internet System of Legal Acts (ISAP) without a time restriction. Current state of knowledge. Poland has progressively reduced economic barriers to pharmacotherapy, extended free-med­icine eligibility from people aged 75+ to those aged 65+, and established a framework of special geriatric care for people aged 75+. The model integrates primary healthcare, geriatric wards, and Health Centres 75+, with comprehensive geriatric assessment, coordination, rehabilitation, medication reconciliation, education and interdisciplinary support. The 2026 Act strengthens coop­eration between healthcare and social assistance services and long-term care coordination. Summary. The proposed changes indicate a transition from fragmented services towards a more integrated model of care for older adults. Effectiveness will depend on workforce availability, the geographical distribution of services, efficient information exchange, intersectoral cooperation, and systematic monitoring of implementation.