Lessons Learned from COVID-19? A Comparative Policy Analysis of Long-Term Care Policies in Two Francophone Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected older adults in long-term care (LTC) homes, exposing systemic challenges. This study compares LTC policy responses in Québec (Canada) and France across regulation, service provision, funding, and workforce. It identifies lessons from the pandemic by comparing LTC policies and changes in Québec and France. Using a multiple case design with cross-case analysis, this study involved document analysis, comparison of changes to recommendations, and expert consultations. Findings reveal that despite a shared vision for care, both systems face ongoing workforce challenges and gaps between expert recommendations and implementation. In Québec, some progress has been made toward these recommendations, although full implementation was found to be incomplete. In France, reform is impacted by bureaucratic inertia. Both countries faced criticism over visitation restrictions, which experts stated to be unlikely to be repeated. These findings underscore the urgent need for more responsive system reform, supported by sustained political investment.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Muzzi, Gabrielle

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Zecevic, Aleksandra

• Health policy
• long-term care
• long-term care home
• regulation
• service provision
• funding
• workforce
• comparative analysis
• comparison
• Canada
• Québec
• France

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/38522

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/38522