Long‐term care in the context of population ageing: What role for social protection policies?

Abstract

With the acceleration of population ageing, healthy ageing is becoming an imperative for all. Social protection systems have an important role to play in this endeavour. Through a life cycle approach, social protection systems can support i) the prevention of disability in old age (i.e. by addressing the social determinants of health and rehabilitation), ii) effective access to long‐term care without hardship for those who need it, and iii) decent work in the care economy. To do so will require adopting a gender‐transformative approach. Indeed, women are disproportionately represented among both older persons and long‐term care providers in their diversity. Further, to adequately contribute to healthy ageing and effective access to long‐term care without hardship as a rights‐based entitlement, social protection systems will need to build strong coordination between health care, social care and other social policies. This article highlights the key entry points for social protection systems to contribute to the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, building on the rights‐based approach of human rights and international social security standards.

Decent Work and Social Sustainability: A conceptual model

“…In other words, ensuring safe workplaces and preserving workers' health, livelihoods, and pensions must be prioritized. Workers and their families should be provided with sufficient financial and other protections in the event of health emergencies and other contingencies (Tessier et al, 2022). This dimension reflects workers' expectations regarding what society can or should do in the long term to acknowledge or reciprocate the effort committed at work (Ferraro et al, 2015).…”

Long-term care in the context of population ageing

“…This working paper draws from the article "Long-term care in the context of population ageing: What role for social protection policies?" by the same authors published in the special edition of the International Social Security Review "The human right to long-term care for the elderly: Extending the role of social security programmes (Tessier et al, 2022).…”