WHO launches report on integrated care for older people

Rapid population ageing requires a transformation of health and social care systems to enable the delivery of integrated and personcentred care that responds to older people’s health and care needs, goals, and preferences. To support this transformation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed the integrated care for older people (ICOPE) approach and a three-phase implementation pilot programme with the aim of supporting Member States to adapt to the provision of integrated care. WHO has launched a report detailing the findings of the first ‘ready’ phase of this pilot programme. This phase aimed to evaluate readiness and feasibility to implement the ICOPE approach. The report summarises the findings from the implementation experiences across nominated Member States, including enablers, barriers, and strengths for the implementation of the ICOPE approach, and learning on the preparation and adaptation needed to implement ICOPE. Findings and learning are drawn from the results of surveys with 260 health and care workers from 29 Member States and 259 systems and service level actors from 35 Member States, including from government, academia, and civil society.