Practical Insights from Case Studies of Community Medical and Nursing Integrated Services in Britain, the United States, and the Netherlands

Abstract

The Chinese government has issued a series of policies to promote the development of community medical and nursing integrated services. Since the development of these services involves the transition of medical and health services from public spaces to private spaces, the home has become a critical factor in service provision. It is therefore essential to consider the concept of home and the sense of at-homeness in the research and practice of community medical and nursing integrated services in China to avoid prioritizing “others“ over “self-being.“ Through an analysis of three cases from Britain, the United States, and the Netherlands, this article demonstrates that a sense of control and social connection are key components of the elderly’s sense of at-homeness. Community medical and nursing integrated services should not only enable the elderly to maintain their sense of self-control but also assist in building a supportive social network.