Integrated health and social care for older persons: Theoretical and conceptual issues

This paper provides the theoretical and conceptual framework to the fieldwork component of the PROCARE programme. The first section explores the need for and impediments to providing integrated care for older people in Europe. The second section is a discussion of the alternative approaches and definitions of integrated care, which emphasises the importance of a person- centred approach. The third section examines the alternative ways in which the impediments to integrated care can be overcome. The last section considers ways in which integrated care can be evaluated