Person-centred long-term care for older persons: a new Lancet Commission

Abstract

The UN declared 2021–30 to be the Decade of Healthy Ageing, and efforts are being made to maximise the functional ability of people over their life course. 1 Beard JR Officer A de Carvalho IA et al. The World report on ageing and health: a policy framework for healthy ageing. Lancet. 2016; 387: 2145-2154 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1088) Google Scholar , 2 WHODecade of healthy ageing: baseline report. World Health Organization, Geneva2021https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240017900Date accessed: May 5, 2023 Google Scholar Yet older people are marginalised and perceived as a burden, particularly those with ongoing loss in capacity. 3 WHOGlobal report on ageism. World Health Organization, Geneva2021https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/combatting-ageism/global-report-on-ageismDate accessed: May 5, 2023 Google Scholar Nowhere is this more conspicuous than in the context of long-term care (LTC) worldwide, where older people in some settings encounter a loss of independence and other violations of their human rights. Such experiences can range from deprivation of liberty and loss of legal capacity and consent to coerced institutionalisation, exposure to abuse, neglect, and disrespect, and persistent use of restraints. 4 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsA/HRC/51/27: older persons deprived of liberty—report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Claudia Mahler. United Nation Human Rights Council, Geneva2022https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5127-older-persons-deprived-liberty-report-independent-expertDate accessed: May 5, 2023 Google Scholar These circumstances create inequity, injustice, and indignity for older people. 3 WHOGlobal report on ageism. World Health Organization, Geneva2021https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/combatting-ageism/global-report-on-ageismDate accessed: May 5, 2023 Google Scholar