Background:

the provision of long-term care in the home context promotes the health and autonomy of users, contributing to the reduction of health costs, so ensuring accessibility is crucial.

Objective:

to identify determinants that can be improved in access to long-term care in the home context.

Methodology:

cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive and correlational study, with a mixed approach, supported by the conceptual model of access to health care of Levesque et al. (2013). First, 4 semi-structured interviews were conducted with health professionals with extensive experience in long-term care. In a second phase, 123 responses to the questionnaire applied to health professionals who work in Equipas de Cuidados Continuados Integrados (ECCI) were analyzed.

Results:

participants considered that, from the dimensions “approachability”, “acceptability”, “availability and accommodation” and “appropriateness”, the determinants with the greatest influence fit into the dimensions of approachability and acceptability and identified greater capacity for intervention in the determinants present in the dimensions of approachability and appropriateness.

Conclusion:

for better access to long-term care in the home context, it is a priority to intervene in health literacy, provision of information about ECCI and the referral process, as well as the adequacy of care.