Long-term care facilities for the elderly: from legislation to needs

Abstract

Objective: to analyze existing federal legislation on public policies that deal with the elderly’s rights, with emphasis onthe assistance provided in long-term care facilities for the elderly and the practical impact of these laws. Methods: this is adocumentary analysis of descriptive character. Results: one identified, among nineteen laws, decrees and ordinances in thelast 25 years, significant developments aimed at the elderly’s welfare, as well as structural proposals and the supervisionof long-term care institutions. Conclusion: the analysis conducted in the documents allowed the conclusion that the needspoint to the decentralization of institutions, increase of vacancies and bigger financial investment of public institutions.