Feature articleHealth and Social Care Policy for the Elderly in Belgium
Section snippets
Health Insurance System
The Belgian social security system is based on a “solidarity principle.” Payments by people who are employed cover those who are unemployed or retired. The Belgian compulsory health insurance system, an integral part of the Belgian social security system, covers almost the entire population.
Health Care Responsibilities
The government plays a crucial role in the health care regulation process through financing structure. However, since 1980, the responsibilities have been shared between the government and the Dutch-,
Care Infrastructure Overview
The elderly care infrastructure comprises hospital care, short- and long-term residential care, and home care and community services.
Policy Challenges
Aging has changed in modern times. Today a more optimistic perspective about the elderly is emerging, emphasizing an older person with remarkable physical and mental fitness and living in satisfying housing with adequate income.20 However, Belgium is confronted with the problem of how to best address the needs of the frail, vulnerable elderly. The Belgium health system requires change to create and sustain an effective integrated system of care, which is obviously easier to design than to
Conclusion
The number and proportion of older people in Belgium is rising sharply. This increase is projected to continue into at least the middle of the 21st century and will have a huge impact on developments in the health care system. Older adults receive health and related social services along the continuum of care in outpatient, in-home, community-based, and institutional settings. Fragmentation between services and poor communication among health professionals are still commonplace, however. Also,
ANTONIA ARNAERT, PhD, MPA, RN, is an assistant professor at McGill University School of Nursing in Montreal, Canada.
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ANTONIA ARNAERT, PhD, MPA, RN, is an assistant professor at McGill University School of Nursing in Montreal, Canada.
BERNADETTE VAN DEN HEUVEL, RN, is the coordinator for Elderly Care at GasthuisZusters in Wilrijk, Belgium.
TARSI WINDEY, RN, is the sector coordinator for Elderly Care at the VVI in Brussels, Belgium.