Integrating Social and Health Services: Squaring the Circle

All developed societies are undergoing processes of convergence between the social and healthcare sectors, given the aging population and the consequent increase in dependency and chronic illnesses. This convergence takes different paths and can ultimately lead to the integration of these two sectors. However, the “health world” and the “social world” are very different realities. Their labor, technical, legal, historical, and budgetary realities are distinct, making this path toward integration, while necessary, fraught with difficulties.