This study investigates how global cultural differences influence long-term care (LTC) and well-being among older adults. Specifically, it examines how the cultural backgrounds of various countries and regions shape the selection and implementation of care models for the elderly. By deepening the understanding of these cross-cultural dynamics, this study aims to inform the development of more effective policies and service models that enhance older adults’ care and well-being. Drawing on the global context of population aging, the study compares LTC systems in Japan, the United States, and Germany. Japan’s model is centered on LTC insurance, the United States relies primarily on commercial insurance mechanisms, and Germany adopts a social insurance-based care system. Based on these international experiences, the study suggests that China should build a culturally adapted LTC system grounded in shared responsibility among individuals, families, society, and the government. In most cases, LTC is provided either by unpaid family members-typically spouses or children-or through public programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, this study analyzes the factors affecting older adults’ subjective well-being using SPSS and Mplus for data management and statistical analysis. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between the elderly dependency ratio and individual subjective well-being. Physical health exerts a particularly strong influence on well-being, while economic status, marital condition, and family companionship also play crucial roles. Therefore, adult children should provide emotional and physical support to their parents, communities should foster engagement through organized activities, and governments should strengthen policy measures and social security systems to promote healthy and fulfilling aging.
Sun et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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