Objective: Based on theoretical and methodological research and the results of a literature review, we evaluated and comparatively analyzed the quality of long-term care for older populations in China and in Western countries.
Methods: We performed a literature review, using the search terms long-term care and care services for older adults, in the databases ProQuest, CNKI, and Wanfang Data.
Results: Our comparative analysis demonstrated that the overall quantity of articles related to long-term care for older populations was relatively large. The literature comprises advanced accumulated experiences in terms of theoretical and methodological perspectives in developed countries. The field of long-term care is relatively young in China and we could retrieve only a few related studies.
Conclusions: The system of long-term care for older populations in China has much room for improvement. In addition, the evaluation criteria for long-term care quality remain controversial. Relevant research focusing on the quality of long-term care services in the country lacks comprehensive, systematic, and scientific validation, comparison, and evaluation. This topic warrants further evidence-based investigation in China.
Keywords: China; Long-term care; Western countries; care services; health care quality; older adults; review.