Long Term Care in the United States and Turkey

The World Health Organization (WHO) (2009b) defines active ageing as “the process of optimizing opportunities for health participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age” and accepts people 60 and over as old (p.1). According to WHO (2009a), a proportion of people aged 60 and over in the world is growing faster than ever due to longer life expectancy and declines in fertility rates. Increases are seen as a success of improved health care and technologies, however, new challenges include adaptation and maximizing and utilizing health resources (WHO, 2009b). A shift in health care systems towards geriatric care, including prevention and management of chronic diseases and more formal long-term care systems is needed (WHO, 2005). The purpose of this paper is to compare long-term health care systems of the U.S. and Turkey in reference to similar population changes. Practice, policy, and research implications are discussed.