Integrated Medical and Elderly Care in Shanghai: A Case Analysis of Resource Distribution and the Five-Bed Linkage Model in Jing'an District

Abstract

China’s rapidly ageing population has made the integration of medical and elderly care resources a pressing challenge. In 2022, Jing’an District in Shanghai introduced the Five-bed Linkage (FBL) model, integrating home-based care beds, institutional care beds, home medical beds, hospital beds, and palliative care beds into an efficient and accessible system. The FBL model is examined by an initial analysis of the spatial distribution and accessibility of medical and care resources using Geographic Information System (GIS). Meanwhile, the way the FBL model integrates facilities and other resources through a flexible system is further explored to identify challenges through three real-life cases. Targeted strategies are proposed to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the FBL model and offer practical guidance for integrated medical and elderly care services.

Keywords: Integrated medical and elderly care, Five-bed Linkage Service (FBL), Geographic Information System (GIS), Shanghai, Aging population

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006295