[Trends in the sufficiency of long-term care as perceived by older care recipients between 2012 and 2022 in the Netherlands].

Abstract

Due to population ageing and rising healthcare costs, Dutch long-term care was reformed in 2015/16. Important measures were stricter admission requirements for nursing homes and decentralization of homecare to municipalities. The consequences of these changes for the perceived quality of care are still unknown. We examined to which extent the sufficiency of care as experienced by older people has changed during this period. We also examined the relationship with individual characteristics, such as care needs, care use, and wishes regarding care. Data from older care recipients at four observations from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) between 2012 and 2022 (N=1316) were used. Multilevel logistic regression analysis were performed. Perceived care sufficiency decreased a little after the healthcare reform in 2015/16 and 2018/19, but recovered in 2022. There appeared no difference based on living region, but care sufficiency was higher in less urban areas (OR=0,89). In addition, functional limitations (OR=0,94), chronic diseases (OR=0,80), use of public care (OR=0,67), and higher education level (OR=1,53) were strongly associated with care sufficiency. However, use of publicly paid care appeared to be the type of care that contributed least to care sufficiency; a lack of perceived control over care may be an explanatory factor.