title: The Dutch Long-Term Care System in Transition: Implications for Municipalities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to examine the preparedness of Dutch municipalities (in terms of system readiness for innovation) for the challenges resulting from their new responsibilities under the long-term care reform of January 1, 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative research approach was used by conducting semi-structured interviews with representatives of nine Dutch municipalities responsible for the long-term care of older people in their respective municipalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Municipalities consider themselves to be largely prepared for their new responsibilities resulting from the long-term care reform. However, this perception mainly applies to practical changes (related to municipalities' organizational preparation for their new responsibilities) occurring in the short-term transition phase, not to the more long-term transformation phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We argue that municipalities highly underestimate the long-term challenges that lie ahead of them (such as the development of a dedicated 'participation society') and, in fact, seem to fear the uncertainty of the consequences of these challenges.
authors.affiliation: International Health, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jongen
authors.affiliation: International Health, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Commers
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M G A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schols
authors.affiliation: International Health, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000639:trends*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000639:trends*; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000639:trends*; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000639:trends*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000639:trends*