Innovating European Long-Term Care Policies through the Socio-Economic Support of Families: A Lesson from Practices

Abstract

TC and socio-economic deprivation of families are two relevant issues in international debate. The economic or time investment made by families in caregiving has an impact on the socio-economic status of family members in terms of economic means and social inclusion. This study analyzes the practices that are supported by home LTC, examining their characteristics, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, drivers, and barriers, as well as identifying social innovation aspects. The study provides a qualitative interpretative comparison of 22 practices from eight countries, representing the four LTC care models existing in Europe. Cross-studies aid in the development of sustainable policies. The study highlights the differences and similarities between selected practices. The results indicate the effectiveness of integrative and coordination strategies at the macro, meso, and micro levels for the development of supportive policies for family members with burdens of care. Nevertheless, the results underline the lack of a genuine focus on families’ socio-economic support for providing care. The partial support provided by compensatory cash benefits or unpaid care leave schemes partially addresses the difficulties of familial burden of care. The study recommends that fair economic compensation and social security benefits be incorporated into innovative and sustainable strategies for supporting caregiving in LTC and welfare schemes.

The impact of long-term care needs on the socioeconomic deprivation of older people and their families: results from a scoping review

“…Nonetheless, SED and its core characteristics appear to be gradually gaining prominence in policymakers' formulation of suggestions and recommendations for the establishment of LTC policies. Cash bene t schemes and support policies for working caregivers continue to be the main initiatives proposed to partially mitigate the effects of caregiving's out-of-pocket nancial burdens, even if their effectiveness are debated in the literature [31]. The more extensive availability of single-country studies and secondary data sources con rms that scienti c research in this eld, in an effort to reduce the complexity of the triangle "LTC needs, health conditions of older people, and socioeconomic conditions," has not yet found methodological and economical sustainable solutions that permit the gathering of more cross-national and primary data.…”

“…Despite these efforts, the literature largely overlooks the effects of health conditions on the socioeconomic status and related risk of socioeconomic deprivation (SED) of either dependent older people or the family members who care for them. Similarly, at policy level, initiatives and schemes supporting family carers do not seem to fully underpin these situations and are, therefore, unable to adequately counteract the risk of poverty and social exclusion arising from informal care activities for dependent people [31]. In light of the current state of affairs, there is an urgent need for a greater focus on the relationship between LTC needs and the risk of socioeconomic deprivation and poverty, to better understand the dynamics underlying this phenomenon and how innovative policies can be formulated globally to tackle it.…”

The Well-Being-Related Living Conditions of Elderly People in the European Union—Selected Aspects

“…The subjective assessment of the quality of life of older people is influenced by their health status [52] and their financial situation [53]. The quality of life of older people, in particular those with disabilities, is improved by well-run and effective long-term care policies [54]. Improving the quality of life is often associated with the introduction and use of new innovative services and products based on new technologies.…”

Social Innovation in Home-Based Eldercare: Strengths and Shortcomings of Integrating Migrant Care Workers into Long-Term Care in Tuscany

“…The difficulties in Italy’s public and private care arrangements are linked to its demographic challenges—faced by all European countries—regarding population ageing, such as the shrinking of the overall population, increasing life-expectancy, and rising dependency ratios [ 21 ]. To address these challenges, the call for more social innovation in LTC policies and practices has become evident in LTC literature [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. According to Heinze and Naegele [ 25 ], ‘population ageing can be regarded as both drivers for social change as well as [the] point of departure for social innovations which aim at tackling with its challenges’ [ 25 ] (p. 155).…”