Explaining governmental involvement in home care across Europe: An international comparative study

Abstract

The involvement of governments in the home care sector strongly varies across Europe. This study aims to explain the differences through the conditions for the involvement of informal care and governments in society; wealth and the demographic structure. As this study could combine qualitative data and quantitative data analyses, it could consider larger patterns than previous studies which were often based on ideographic historical accounts. Extensive data were gathered in 30 European countries, between 2008 and 2010. In each country, policy documents were analysed and experts were interviewed. International variation in regulation and governmental funding of personal care and domestic aid are associated with differences in prevailing values on family care, tax burden and wealth in a country. Hence, this study provides evidence for the obstacles - i.e. country differences - for transferring home care policies between countries. However, longitudinal research is needed to establish whether this is indeed the causal relationship we expect.

Changing long-term care provision at the local level in times of austerity – a qualitative study

“…on the number of users and hours of home care – at the expense of the care process. As mentioned above, during the previous decade substantial investments were made throughout Italy to improve the management of the latter, a trend common in many other European countries (Genet et al 2013). However, once the economic crisis began, decision-makers started to disinvest in the care process and – in many areas – it actually worsened.…”

Neighbourhood nursing : connection, place and meaning in the everyday experience of dementia

“…The consumption of home care will increase among frail older people, who often have multiple medical diagnoses, related to ageing (Clegg, Young, Iliffe, Rikkert, & Rockwood, 2013;Collard, Boter, Schoevers, & Oude Voshaar, 2012). The organization of home care for older people in European countries varies when it comes to policy, regulations and insurance coverage (Genet, Kroneman, & Boerma, 2013;Van Eenoo et al, 2016). In addition, the political movement of care has turned towards private services and informal care instead of public provision (Bettio & Verashchagina, 2012).…”

Preliminary Evaluation of a Personal Healthcare System Prototype for Cognitive eRehabilitation in a Living Assistance Domain

“…A primary home-care debate is around whether sufficient qualified staff will be available if the ratio between the working age population and the elderly population changes [16]. ICT applied to healthcare systems has emerged as a suitable solution.…”