Search results for ‘Subject term:"access to services"’ Sort:
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Health care across borders: Austria and its new EU neighbours
- Author:
- OSTERLE August
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of European Social Policy, 17(2), May 2007, pp.112-124.
- Publisher:
- Sage
In the European Union, a growing body of regulations and decisions attempt to facilitate cross-border health treatments. These focus on coordinating social protection for those migrating or travelling within Europe, and increasingly those travelling specifically for health treatments abroad. With EU enlargement, the framework became effective for another ten countries. This article discusses access to health care in neighbouring regions of `old' and `new' EU member states: Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia. Even if cross-border care is not a new phenomenon in the region, EU enlargement implies greater opportunities and increased requirements and incentives for coordination, cooperation and competition. The article concludes that this also involves prospects for improved access in the border region. But, outside pre-arranged institutional health care settings, taking advantage of these prospects is often determined by and differentiated along the lines of access to information and individual ability to pay, and it involves certain quality risks.
Impact of the COVID‐19 lockdown on system usage of an innovative care support system and the mood of older adults
- Authors:
- MAYER Christopher C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37(3), 2022,
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Older age is a substantial risk factor for serious illness from COVID-19. Moreover, isolation and quarantine are more likely to cause physical, mental and social deprivation in older age. Information and Communication Tools are means to prevent such consequences. Objective: This study aimed therefore to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on the usage of an innovative technical support system deployed in Austria (AT) and Luxembourg (LU) consisting of several tools that allow independent living in older age. Methods: Thirty-nine older adults (11 male; 28 female) with a mean age of 74.3 (SD 7.3) years were included in the study. In total, 18 older people were recruited in AT and 21 in LU. Descriptive statistics were computed, and longitudinal models were fitted for technology use and self-reported mood. Results: The number of older adults using the system significantly decreased from the time before lockdown (39 [100%]) to during lockdown (26 [67%]) and thereafter (23 [59%]; p < 0.001). Multiple comparisons revealed a significant reduction in the average number of events for calendar and medication tools, but a substantial increase in communication and messaging events. Self-reported well-being declined during the lockdown and increased afterwards back to baseline levels. Conclusion: Communication was the main reason for using the support system. In addition, strategies and interventions are essential to support older adults when using information technology in the prolonged phases of the pandemic to sustain independent living. (Edited publisher abstract)
The long-term care mix in Austria: an overview of community-based care provision by formal and informal caregivers
- Authors:
- lINCA Stefania, RODRIGUES Ricardo
- Publisher:
- European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- Vienna
This Policy Brief provides insights into the individual characteristics associated with the use of formal, informal and mixed care by older Austrians living in the community. These are instrumental in understanding how care services can be structured to best complement informal care provision and respond to care users’ needs, as well as how long-term care policies can be expected to impact different care users and caregivers’ groups. The Brief shows that while informal support still accounts for the majority of provided care, the supply of formal services has been constantly increasing, serving primarily very old individuals, those with higher support needs and women. Large gender differences in care use patterns are still observed in Austria and particularly pronounced among married and co-habiting older people. (Edited publisher abstract)
Access to specialised victim support services for women with disabilities who have experienced violence. Comparative Research Report: Austria, Germany, Iceland and United Kingdom
- Authors:
- WOODIN Sarah, SHAH Sonali
- Publisher:
- University of Leeds. Centre for Disability Studies
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 59
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
This comparative report presents the results of research into violence against women with disabilities for the project 'Access to specialised victim support services for women with disabilities who have experienced violence', which was funded by the EU Daphne III programme. It is based on research which took place in Austria, Germany, Iceland and United Kingdom between 2013 and 2014 and involved 187 women with disabilities (106 women in focus groups and 81 women in individual interviews). The research included women with mobility and sensory impairments, women with intellectual impairments, women with mental health conditions and women with multiple impairments. Specialised service providers assisting women who have experienced violence also took part in this study (602 responses to an online survey and 54 individual interviews with representatives from services). Research findings are discussed in the following areas: perceptions and understanding of violence; experiences of violence and support over the life course; women's knowledge about their rights; knowledge about use of services; experience of barriers; helpful aspects of support. Suggestions for improvement and good practice are also included. The report highlights the need for support services that recognise the type and extent of violence against disabled women need to be developed, and for both mainstream and specialised strategies to be pursued. (Edited publisher abstract)