Abstract
Demographic changes such as increasing longevity, declining family sizes, and increasing
female participation in the labor market have implications for long-term care (LTC)
planning for the elderly. As the population in both developed and developing world
ages, the prevalence of health conditions such as chronic diseases and disabilities
increases. Consequently, the proportion of elderly adults who require assistance with
their daily activities rises. Further, the potential decrease in family members available
as caregivers implies an increase in the demand for alternative LTC arrangements.
Planning of LTC services is fraught with dynamic complexities. Various issues, such
as projecting future need, cost, capacity, and quality of care and caregivers—formal
and informal—can influence the effectiveness and efficiency of LTC services. The trends
outlined point to the need for a comprehensive LTC planning that accounts for all
these dynamics changes. This chapter aims to demonstrate the use of simulation modeling
as a communication tool that allows for the LTC complexity to be reduced to its essential
elements to inform policy for an aging society. The forms of simulation techniques
used in the planning of LTC policy and services and real-world applications across
different institutional contexts are discussed. Of particular focus is the application
of the system dynamics methodology in LTC planning. Three LTC projects using system
dynamics methodology are presented. Specifically, these LTC projects comprise the
methodological process in the projection of the number of disabled elderly in Singapore
accounting for changing educational attainment, the impact of various LTC policies
on informal eldercare hours and labor force participation of informal caregivers,
and the impact of LTC capacity expansion policies on acute care.
Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1007/978-3-319-55774-8_7
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