Current Challenges for Long-Term Care Management in Spain

Due to the demographic and social changes that have taken place in recent years, Spanish society is undergoing a progressive ageing process, with increasing numbers of dependent people thus requiring long-term care. The main purpose of the present paper is to analyze the challenges inherent in managing these healthcare services. We start by examining the last ‘Survey on Disability, Personal Autonomy and Dependency’ conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and the ‘Dependency Law’, which constitutes the greatest breakthrough there has been in the field of social protection in Spain in recent decades. As w ell as studying the participation of the General State Administration and the Regional Autonomous Communities, we highlight the cooperation, coordination and financial support demanded of these government entities. Effective management is only possible if this commitment is fulfilled, based on identifying current needs and establishing appropriate action towards the achievement of well-defined healthcare goals.