Comparative Evaluation of Long-term Care Policies for the Elderly in the EU

A combination of demographic, social and macro-economic developments have put long-term care schemes in nearly all EU countries under severe pressures they were not intended to cope with. Adopting a cross-national comparative approach and combining existing literature with empirical findings, this exploratory study provides standardised information on the organisation and financing of long-term care for the elderly in the Union, and evaluates the respective merits of selected schemes i.e. France, Germany and the UK in meeting emerging pressures. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of individual schemes using 'equity' and 'efficiency' criteria as an evaluation framework. Based on this evaluation, it offers reflections that may serve as a starting-point for policy strategies. In addition, it provides an analysis of the relationship between different long-term care arrangements and welfare state models.

Autorentext

The Author: Jürgen Holdenrieder was born in 1969 in Ulm. He gained a degree in Business and Management at the University of Applied Sciences of Augsburg and a Ph.D. in Social Science at the University of Ulster. He presently works in the management of a national welfare institution. In addition to his main occupation, he carries out research and lectures in the field of European social (health) policy.

Inhalt

Contents: Public policy issue - Conceptual framework - Growing need for long-term care (Demographic component; Health status of the elderly; Social component) - Contextual factors with influence on long-term care scheme (Economic context; Political context) - Fundamental principles applying to systems of social protection - Models of state welfare in the EU countries - Domiciliary long-term care arrangements in the EU countries - Domicilary long-term care in France, Germany and in the UK - Discussion of cross-national findings - The development of state welfare in EU countries - General policy recommendations.