Integrated Care as a Strategic Solution for Active Aging in the Community

Abstract

A rapidly aging population is an international challenge. Although much has been done, senior citizens today are not experiencing better health than our ancestors (WHO, 2016). This chapter reviews evidence on the current international good practices, the positive clinical and economic impact of integrated care, and how Operations Research/Management Science (OR/MS) methodologies add value to the implementation of integrated care. In the second half of the chapter, three enablers of implementing integrated care are reviewed: 1) a common technological platform, 2) service-restructuring with the introduction of new job roles and recruitment, and 3) creation of a financial model that incentivizes integrated care. In conclusion, while research has shown that integrated care is effective in fostering aging in place, challenges remain as to how it could be implemented given that population aging has increased the demands on healthcare resources. This chapter reviews how OR/MS methodologies can facilitate the implementation of integrated care.