Ageing and Long-Term Informal Care: The Reality of Two Countries in Europe: Denmark and Portugal

Abstract

The knowledge of long-term informal care is particularly interesting for social and health measures related to ageing. This study aims to analyze how Portugal differs from Denmark regarding long-term informal care, specifically referring to personal care received by older people. A cross-sectional study was developed in Portugal and Denmark through the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 2015, with a total of 2891 participants. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were performed. The findings suggest a significant association for older people from Portugal who receive long-term informal care from non-household caregivers and household caregivers. Moreover, as they age and are from Portugal, their availability to receive long-term informal care from non-household caregivers increases. Furthermore, older people in Portugal are more likely to receive long-term informal care from a household caregiver. It is important to take a closer look at long-term informal care in both countries and think about healthy ageing policies in the current context of the ageing population. This study provides knowledge about disaggregated health data on ageing in the European region, helping to fill research gaps related to older people.

Research on the income and expenditure forecast of long-term care insurance fund in Shihezi City based on community care

“…These services typically involve daily activities such as eating, dressing, and bathing. Long-term care services can be provided in various settings, including homes, communities, nursing homes, and specialized facilities such as rehabilitation centers ( 5 ). However, China relies relatively less on older adult care institutions, and there is also a shortage of professional caregivers.…”

“…Except for Shanghai and Guangzhou, most pilot cities do not have age requirements for insured persons (27,28), (2) Most pilot cities rely on multi-channel fundraising approach under the medical insurance pooling fund, including financial subsidies, unit and individual contributions, and welfare lottery public 4) The nursing service mainly includes two aspects: basic daily care and medical care. Some cities, such as Jingmen and Ningbo, also include psychological comfort and end-of-life care in their service scope, (5) The payment for long-term care insurance generally varies based on the type of nursing services provided, with a payment ratio of mostly over 50%. Most cities have set a maximum payment limit, and some cities have also designed payment conditions that are "bundled" with the payment period of medical insurance, and (6) Long-term care insurance is handled and managed by social medical insurance institutions in various regions.…”