From fragmentation to empowerment: community rehabilitation care and health literacy as drivers of integrated care

In the 21st century, rehabilitation care in community contexts has emerged as a strategic structuring axis for more equitable, sustainable and person-centred health systems. Rather than being merely a therapeutic addition, rehabilitation is now widely recognised as a fundamental right and a valuable social investment that promotes functionality, engagement, participation and quality of life throughout life. Nevertheless, the persistence of hospital-centred care models, fragmentation between levels of care and unequal access continue to compromise the continuity and effectiveness of interventions. This perspective puts forward a new conceptual idea by presenting community rehabilitation, health literacy and digital transformation as an interconnected triad that facilitates the shift from fragmented care pathways to integrated, empowerment-oriented systems. We propose a conceptual framework that positions community-based rehabilitation as a longitudinal process embedded in everyday contexts; health literacy as a driver of co-responsibility and equity; and digital transformation as enabling infrastructure for coordination and continuity. The implications of this model extend to policy development, service organisation and professional practice, emphasising the necessity of governance arrangements, workforce competencies and digital strategies that can support truly person-centred, integrated care.