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Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 February 2025

Barbara Gösenbauer, Alexander Braun and Marcel Bilger

European countries are experiencing a phenomenon known as “double aging,” which is placing long-term care regimes under considerable strain. The majority of long-term care is…

115

Abstract

Purpose

European countries are experiencing a phenomenon known as “double aging,” which is placing long-term care regimes under considerable strain. The majority of long-term care is provided by relatives, and this informal care is vital for the functioning of care regimes. Most of this informal long-term care (iLTC) is provided by women. The consequences of the unequal distribution of care within society are a crucial, yet poorly addressed aspect of social policy research. We address this research gap and provide insights into the socio-economic impacts of the unequal gender distribution of iLTC.

Design/methodology/approach

For the review, systematic database searches were performed in PubMed and EBSCO CINAHL, using the SPIDER methodology. A total of 7,385 abstracts were screened, whereof 11 studies were included. A critical appraisal tool, the PRISMA checklist and a qualitative synthesis were applied.

Findings

Three analytical themes were identified: (1) Social Experiences and Norms, (2) Informal Caregivers’ Labour Market Participation and (3) Economic Costs of iLTC. The results showed that women and men are impacted differently: Women are quantitatively discriminated, while caregiving men are likely to face qualitative discrimination within their tasks due to role expectations and gender norms.

Originality/value

Novel insights emerge from embedding fragmented empirical findings into a holistic societal perspective, opening possibilities for addressing (adverse) outcomes together on a policy level. The findings are of interest for policy makers developing measures to ensure sufficient care supply whilst taking action against gender inequality.

Details

Journal of Integrated Care, vol. 33 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1476-9018

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 24 October 2023

Barbara Gösenbauer

The comment addresses the idea of substituting professional elder care with informal care provided by early retirees to save economic costs.

265

Abstract

Purpose

The comment addresses the idea of substituting professional elder care with informal care provided by early retirees to save economic costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The comment arose from reading “How to handle gerontocracy”, scientific research and critical, analytical thinking.

Findings

While having early pensioners deliver elderly care has positive implications, substituting professional with informal care must be challenged. First, the “unused reservoir” of early pensioners might be overestimated, as they often already have care responsibilities. Second, the substitution of professional services is already happening due to staff shortages. Third, untrained caregivers might struggle to provide the needed care quality, resulting in worse health outcomes (and higher follow-up costs). Finally, there are concerns of social sustainability: because of role expectations, mainly women may take on care tasks, reinforcing social inequality. Also, the third sector might lose hours of volunteer work.

Originality/value

The comment appeals to a critically rethinking of the idea of substituting professional services with informal care provision and argues for differentiated and well-tailored policy measures, taking into account the complex nature of (informal) caregiving.

Details

Journal of Integrated Care, vol. 31 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1476-9018

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