RODRIGUES Ricardo, ILINCA Stefania, SCHMIDT Andrea
Publisher:
European Commission
Publication year:
2014
Pagination:
39
Place of publication:
Brussels
There are significant differences across social protection systems in Europe in the scope, breadth and depth of coverage of the risk to need long-term care in old-age. Together with other factors, such as education, household structure or societal values regarding care for frail older people, these differences can have a significant impact on the use of long-term care. Using SHARE data, this Research Note compares differences between European countries in the use of long-term care across income groups, for older people living at home. It analyses not only inequalities in the use of long-term care, but also differences in use that persist after differences in need have been taken into consideration, i.e. horizontal inequity. For this purpose, concentration indices, concentration curves and horizontal inequity indices are estimated for home care services and informal care. The countries analysed here are Austria, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Belgium and Czech Republic. The findings suggest that differences in use of home care services across income groups mostly reflect differences in need between those same groups. For informal care, the differences in use persist even after accounting for needs, and less affluent individuals are much more likely to use informal care. Some possible causes for these differences and policy implications are considered.
There are significant differences across social protection systems in Europe in the scope, breadth and depth of coverage of the risk to need long-term care in old-age. Together with other factors, such as education, household structure or societal values regarding care for frail older people, these differences can have a significant impact on the use of long-term care. Using SHARE data, this Research Note compares differences between European countries in the use of long-term care across income groups, for older people living at home. It analyses not only inequalities in the use of long-term care, but also differences in use that persist after differences in need have been taken into consideration, i.e. horizontal inequity. For this purpose, concentration indices, concentration curves and horizontal inequity indices are estimated for home care services and informal care. The countries analysed here are Austria, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Belgium and Czech Republic. The findings suggest that differences in use of home care services across income groups mostly reflect differences in need between those same groups. For informal care, the differences in use persist even after accounting for needs, and less affluent individuals are much more likely to use informal care. Some possible causes for these differences and policy implications are considered.
Subject terms:
long term conditions, long term care, home care, health inequalities, older people, comparative studies;
Report describing the experience in 8 European countries with regard to assistance, health care and home care for older and disabled people, focusing in particular on the debate over the introduction of a dependency benefit.
Report describing the experience in 8 European countries with regard to assistance, health care and home care for older and disabled people, focusing in particular on the debate over the introduction of a dependency benefit.
Subject terms:
home care, older people, social policy, benefits, community care, health care;
Location(s):
Czech Republic, France, Israel, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden
Presents a collection of papers looking at how payments for care schemes are developing across Western and Central Europe, the United States and Canada. Includes discussions of payments to 'volunteers', and consideration of the way in which social security and tax systems work to increase the incomes of care recipients and their carers. Also includes introductory chapters discussing general and theoretical issues involved in the development of systems of payments for care including the labour market, empowerment and the relationship between carers and care recipients.
Presents a collection of papers looking at how payments for care schemes are developing across Western and Central Europe, the United States and Canada. Includes discussions of payments to 'volunteers', and consideration of the way in which social security and tax systems work to increase the incomes of care recipients and their carers. Also includes introductory chapters discussing general and theoretical issues involved in the development of systems of payments for care including the labour market, empowerment and the relationship between carers and care recipients.
Subject terms:
labour market, mixed economy of care, older people, payments, social policy, taxation, carers, children, families, empowerment;
Location(s):
Canada, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Finland, France, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, United Kingdom, United States
A country-by-country examination of welfare provision for older people, focusing in particular on the mix of private and public sector provision. Volume 1 is on Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Yugoslavia; volume 2 is on Austria, Denmark, Finland, Israel and the Netherlands; volume 3 is on Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
A country-by-country examination of welfare provision for older people, focusing in particular on the mix of private and public sector provision. Volume 1 is on Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Yugoslavia; volume 2 is on Austria, Denmark, Finland, Israel and the Netherlands; volume 3 is on Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Subject terms:
older people, pensions, private sector, public sector, residential care, social policy, social services, social care provision, benefits;
European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research
Publication year:
2015
Pagination:
15
Place of publication:
Vienna
Many countries across Europe have developed strategies to support community-based services in an attempt to replace traditional institutional models of care. Differences in needs, approaches and commitment levels have led to diverse results and pace of progress. However, much can be learned from their experiences and from examples of strategies and models which proved to be effective. This Policy Briefing presents a typology of long-term care regimes and proposes four case studies to illustrate the main barriers and drivers to deinstitutionalisation. Austria (Standard care mix) illustrates the importance of developing strong support systems for informal carers and strengthening home-based care provision. Sweden (UniversalNordic) has made great strides towards deinstitutionalisation by promoting coordination between care providers, but, the coverage and cost of services will soon become unsustainable unless appropriate support for family-based care is provided. Italy (Family-based) and the Czech Republic (Transition) represent situations where the rates of institutionalisation are relatively low and current policy is challenged to contain future growth. Both systems offer significant support to informal and family carers, but this historic over-reliance on household contributions to care is leading to a widening gap between supply and demand, which needs to be addressed through the strengthening of community-based services.The briefing concludes with a discussion of the core principles for reaching a sustainable balance between different long-term care settings.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Many countries across Europe have developed strategies to support community-based services in an attempt to replace traditional institutional models of care. Differences in needs, approaches and commitment levels have led to diverse results and pace of progress. However, much can be learned from their experiences and from examples of strategies and models which proved to be effective. This Policy Briefing presents a typology of long-term care regimes and proposes four case studies to illustrate the main barriers and drivers to deinstitutionalisation. Austria (Standard care mix) illustrates the importance of developing strong support systems for informal carers and strengthening home-based care provision. Sweden (UniversalNordic) has made great strides towards deinstitutionalisation by promoting coordination between care providers, but, the coverage and cost of services will soon become unsustainable unless appropriate support for family-based care is provided. Italy (Family-based) and the Czech Republic (Transition) represent situations where the rates of institutionalisation are relatively low and current policy is challenged to contain future growth. Both systems offer significant support to informal and family carers, but this historic over-reliance on household contributions to care is leading to a widening gap between supply and demand, which needs to be addressed through the strengthening of community-based services.The briefing concludes with a discussion of the core principles for reaching a sustainable balance between different long-term care settings.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, long term care, informal care, community care, deinstitutionalisation, care homes, models, social policy, carers, policy, case studies;
Joins micro-economic analysis of social insurance and welfare systems with broader political descriptions of social policy. Gives a sense of the fundamental problem of finding a social welfare system that fits specific economic and cultural conditions. Includes papers on: the Nordic welfare model and the European Union; convergence and divergence in the evolution of the welfare state; private provision of social security; the case for equivalent taxation of social security benefits in the European Union; an international analysis of retirement and economic development; disability and rehabilitation; unemployment insurance; social assistance in comparative perspective; lone mothers, policy and employment in twenty countries; Swedish single parents and social security; social security in Poland in a period of transition; social security reform in the Czech Republic; social security for disabled people in South Africa; China's social security in the context of the national distribution system; and integratability of social welfare systems for a unified Korea.
Joins micro-economic analysis of social insurance and welfare systems with broader political descriptions of social policy. Gives a sense of the fundamental problem of finding a social welfare system that fits specific economic and cultural conditions. Includes papers on: the Nordic welfare model and the European Union; convergence and divergence in the evolution of the welfare state; private provision of social security; the case for equivalent taxation of social security benefits in the European Union; an international analysis of retirement and economic development; disability and rehabilitation; unemployment insurance; social assistance in comparative perspective; lone mothers, policy and employment in twenty countries; Swedish single parents and social security; social security in Poland in a period of transition; social security reform in the Czech Republic; social security for disabled people in South Africa; China's social security in the context of the national distribution system; and integratability of social welfare systems for a unified Korea.
Subject terms:
insurance, labour market, older people, physical disabilities, private sector, rehabilitation, retirement, social welfare, single parent families, taxation, unemployment, welfare state, benefits, comparative studies;
Location(s):
China, Czech Republic, Europe, Poland, Sweden, South Africa, South Korea
Contains examples of successful service provision for older people from 40 countries. The case studies are organised into the following sections: care at home; community support; empowerment; participation; fitness and well-being; income generation; environment; integrated services; mental health; training for elder care; organisation of services; and older women.
Contains examples of successful service provision for older people from 40 countries. The case studies are organised into the following sections: care at home; community support; empowerment; participation; fitness and well-being; income generation; environment; integrated services; mental health; training for elder care; organisation of services; and older women.
Subject terms:
integrated services, management, multidisciplinary services, older people, social work education, staff, staff management, training, user participation, women, community care, dementia, empowerment, environmental factors, health;
Location(s):
Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ghana, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Germany, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, Mali, Malta, Norway, Pakistan, Mexico, Sweden, Thailand, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
Provides a reference source for various modes of care (both formal and informal) for older people throughout Europe. Each chapter follows the same format and covers: demography; socio-political and administrative background; social security and pensions; housing; health care; mental health care; residential care; personal social services; voluntary care agencies and support organisations; leisure pursuits and education; and older people in rural areas.
Provides a reference source for various modes of care (both formal and informal) for older people throughout Europe. Each chapter follows the same format and covers: demography; socio-political and administrative background; social security and pensions; housing; health care; mental health care; residential care; personal social services; voluntary care agencies and support organisations; leisure pursuits and education; and older people in rural areas.
Subject terms:
housing, informal care, leisure, leisure activities, mental health services, older people, pensions, population, residential care, rural areas, social policy, social care provision, voluntary organisations, benefits, care homes, comparative studies, demographics, education, health care;