Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Disaster & Emergency Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background 
Population aging is usually associated with increased health needs and designing an age-friendly health system with dedicated features, structure, and functions to improve the health status and quality of life of older adults. There is no evidence of such a conceptual framework developed based on scoping review and expert opinion before. Therefore, this study presents an age-friendly health system design.

Methods 
The selected models include Arksey and O'Malley’s models. After reviewing 49 health system models and conceptual frameworks, Van Olmen's model was selected as the basic model. Then, by reviewing published articles and other credible resources, the characteristics of an age-friendly health system were extracted and an initial conceptual framework was designed. Then, the expert’s opinions were used to improve and validate this framework.

Results 
This study systematically reviews the literature contributions on the age-friendly health system. At first, 12316 documents were found. In the final stage, the findings of 140 studies by two reviewers were independently extracted into a data extraction form. Most studies were conducted between 2016 to 2020. In addition, most published articles were conducted in the United States (33.6%). The results showed that an age-friendly health system should include interventions in its components, functions, and goals to provide better services to older adults. This system aims to provide evidence-based care through trained workforces and involves older people and their families. Its consequences include better health for older people, reduction of waste, and increased use of cost-effective health services.
 
Conclusion 
To meet the needs of older individuals, health systems should make interventions in all their sub-sections. Also, in line with these changes, other parts of society should work in harmony and set the health of older people as a top priority to ensure they can have a successful aging.

Keywords