title: Cross-cultural comparison of long-term care in the United States and Finland: Research done through a short-term study-abroad experience.
abstract: In May 2014, a short-term study-abroad experience was conducted in Finland through a course offered at Indiana State University (ISU). Students and faculty from ISU and Eastern Illinois University participated in the experience, which was created to facilitate a cross-cultural comparison of long-term-care settings in the United States and Finland. With its outstanding system of caring for the health and social needs of its aging populace, Finland is a logical model to examine when considering ways to improve the quality of life for older adults who require care in the United States . Those participating in the course visited a series of long-term-care facilities in the region surrounding Terre Haute, Indiana, then travelled to Lappeenranta, Finland to visit parallel sites. Through limited-participation observation and semistructured interviews, similarities and differences in experiences, educations, and policies affecting long-term care workers in the United States and Finland were identified and are described here.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Applied Health Sciences , Indiana State University , Terre Haute , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Tina M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: a Department of Applied Health Sciences , Indiana State University , Terre Haute , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilland
authors.affiliation: b School of Family and Consumer Sciences , Eastern Illinois University , Charleston , Illinois , USA.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: b School of Family and Consumer Sciences , Eastern Illinois University , Charleston , Illinois , USA.
authors.forename: Bridget C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Applied Health Sciences , Indiana State University , Terre Haute , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: English
authors.affiliation: c School of Nursing , Indiana State University , Terre Haute , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.affiliation: d Early Learning Indiana , Indianapolis , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Kaylee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.affiliation: e Chemistry Department , Indiana State University , Terre Haute , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005387:Finland; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006280:Health Workforce; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008134:Long-Term Care; D057766:Policy; D011632:Public Assistance / Q000458:organization & administration; D011788:Quality of Life; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D064407:Senior Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States
keywords: Cross-cultural comparison; long-term care; study abroad