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Bridging the gap: collaboration between local care entrepreneurs and a long-term care organization [PCC041]

Thursday May 7, 2026 09:00 - 09:15 G2

Presenter: Danaé M.L. Smeets

Track: Organisational Governance

Background: Long-term care (LTC) organizations are under pressure as ageing populations increase demand while workforce availability declines1. There is an increased need for integrated approaches that focus on participation of formal and informal networks1,2,3. One initiative emerging in the Netherlands is the Powered by concept, in which a LTC organization collaborates with local care entrepreneurs to facilitate them in providing accessible, high-quality and personalized care to older people within their own community. Aim: This study aims to describe the Powered by concept and define its physical, social and organizational components. Methods: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative design was utilized, combining document and website analysis, interviews with organizational stakeholders, and a focus group with care entrepreneurs. Data were analyzed iteratively and triangulated across sources. Findings: The Powered by concept includes 25 care arrangements, mostly offering residential care (n=20). In physical and social environments, much variation could be noted across care arrangements, indicating freedom in shaping these environments. In the organizational environment, key components of both parties and their collaboration were identified. A complementary partnership, based on mutual trust and a shared passion for care and well-being, is indicated. Key components of the LTC organization include: system-level expertise and resources, fluidity in control, and adaptability. Key components of care entrepreneurs include local embeddedness, intrinsic motivation, reflectivity, and entrepreneurial drive. Conclusion: The Powered by concept is an alternative way of organizing LTC for older persons. It facilitates a dynamic collaboration between centralized expertise and locally rooted entrepreneurship, allowing for high-quality care delivery tailored to the community. References: Pani-Harreman,.E.,.et.al..(2021). Definitions, key themes and aspects of ‘ageing in place’: a scoping review. Ageing and Society, 41(9),2026-2059..https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X20000094 World Health Organization (WHO).(2002). Active Ageing: A Policy Framework..https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/active-ageing-a-policy-framework/ Beard,.R.,.et.al..(2016). The World report on ageing and health: a policy framework for healthy ageing. The Lancet, 387(10033),2145-2154..https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00516-4
Language

English

Conference

GCPCC

GCPCC Seminar type

Orals

GCPCC Code

PCC041

Lecturers

Danaé M.L. Smeets Presenter