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Final Program


Final Congress Guide

Health Policy and Systems

700 Section - Full title: Rehabilitation service delivery models to foster healthy ageing in the WHO European Region: results from a cross-sectional stakeholder consultation involving 45 countries

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

    Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

  • VS

    Vanessa A. Seijas, MD

    Dr.sc
    Swiss Paraplegic Zenter
    Sursee, Luzern, Switzerland

    • Co-Author/Coautor(s)

  • RM

    Roxanne Maritz, Dr.

    Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems coordinator
    University of Lucerne
    Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland

  • JY

    Julia Yee, MS

    PhD student
    Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
    Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland

  • BM

    Beatriz Moreira, MS

    PhD Student
    Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne
    Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland

  • CL

    Clara Lussi, MS

    PhD Student
    Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
    Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland

  • AL

    Andreas Limacher, PhD

    Group Leader Functioning Information Reference Lab
    Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland
    Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland

  • YY

    Yongjie Yon, n/a

    Ageing and Health Unit, Division of Country Health Policies and Systems
    WHO Regional Office for Europe
    Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark

  • SK

    Shirin Kiani, n/a

    Health Workforce and Service Delivery Unit, Division of Country Health Policy and Systems
    WHO Regional Office for Europe
    Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark

  • TZ

    Tomas Zapata, n/a

    Health Workforce and Service Delivery Unit
    WHO Regional Office for Europe
    Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark

  • CS

    Carla Sabariego, PhD

    Professor of Rehabilitation and Healthy Ageing
    University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
    Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland

Objectives : As populations age, rehabilitation needs are increasing sharply. Older people experience declining intrinsic capacity, multimorbidity, and environmental barriers, which intensify their reliance on rehabilitation to optimize and maintain functional ability. Despite its critical role in healthy ageing, access to rehabilitation remains limited across the WHO European Region (WHO EURO). We aimed to examine the availability, implementation, and challenges of rehabilitation service delivery for older people in WHO EURO from the perspectives of rehabilitation stakeholders.

Design:

We conducted a secondary mixed-methods analysis of a 2023/2024 global online survey called “Rehabilitation Service Delivery to Foster Healthy Ageing.” The survey, offered in eight languages, targeted health and care workers providing rehabilitation for people aged 60 and above. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed descriptively, thematically, and integrated using the Health System Dynamics Framework. Reporting followed CROSS and MMR-RHS guidelines.


Results: 706 responses from 45 countries were analysed. Six validated rehabilitation delivery models were confirmed: outpatient, inpatient, home, telerehabilitation, community, and residential long-term care. Findings revealed disparities in the availability of these models and in the responsiveness - assessed through a self-designed responsiveness index - of rehabilitation services to ageing populations, varying by country and income level. Strengthening outpatient, home, and residential long-term rehabilitation was considered most urgently needed. Barriers and facilitators to strengthening rehabilitation were identified across all domains of the Health System Dynamics Framework.

Conclusion:

Rehabilitation models remain unevenly implemented across Europe. Systemic barriers span governance, financing, human resources, and service delivery, underlining the importance of integrated approaches that reflect older people’s realities and priorities. Rehabilitation plays a key role not only after illness or injury but also in maintaining functional ability during age-related declines in intrinsic capacity. Strengthening rehabilitation is essential for Healthy Ageing and requires investment, intersectoral collaboration, and implementation science to overcome systemic barriers.