# Analysis of long-term care for older adults in Brazil, Spain, and Portugal: Perspectives and challenges

## TL;DR

This study compares long-term care policies for older adults in Brazil, Spain, and Portugal, highlighting the need for improved policies in Brazil.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comparative analysis of long-term care systems in three countries, emphasizing policy gaps and the need for reform in Brazil.

## Key findings

- Spain has a more organized long-term care structure with home care services and financial support for caregivers.
- Brazil lacks comprehensive policies for older adults with functional limitations.
- Population aging challenges the sustainability of long-term care systems in all three countries.

## Abstract

This study analyzed long-term care policies within the universal health systems of Brazil, Spain, and Portugal using a comparative approach that combines structural similarity and policy contrast across different stages of demographic aging and long-term care development, through a documentary and bibliographic review based on legislation, official records, and international health and social indicators from the OECD published between 2019 and 2022. A qualitative comparative analysis of documents and official reports was conducted to identify similarities, differences, and gaps in care policies. The results show that Spain has a more organized structure than Portugal, offering extensive home care services, day centers, and financial support for caregivers, although population aging poses a challenge to system sustainability. In contrast, Brazil still lacks comprehensive policies aimed at older adults with functional limitations. It is concluded that Brazil's long-term care policies need to be redesigned, with an emphasis on strengthening service organization and improving human resource training to meet the growing demands of an aging population.

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