Health and Social Care Policy for the Elderly in Belgium

Current Belgian health care policy for the elderly can be classified broadly into institutional care, community care, and home care. Economic restrictions, smaller families, increased employment among women, geographic distances between family members, and the preference of the elderly to remain at home are factors challenging Belgian policy makers and health professionals to restructure the current health care system and provide integrated holistic health and social care to the elderly. These challenges are being addressed through initiatives to customize care for the elderly at home, in the community, or in care environments by improving coordination of care, programs of support for geriatric care and dementia, and research into new accommodation and health solutions.