The impact of long-term care needs on the socio-economic deprivation of older people and their families: A scoping review protocol
Abstract BackgroundPopulation ageing, constantly on the increase in all countries worldwide, has long been the object of scientific research from several perspectives, including multi and interdisciplinary approaches. This scoping review aims to investigate the socio-economic consequences of older people’s poor health on their own economic conditions and those of their families. This study aims to: a) map the main concepts that characterise the body of literature pertaining to this issue; b) identify conceptual gaps or unexplored research areas to be addressed; c) delve into the ways of arguing about the difficulties that affect a large number of families with older members to care for, esp…
The impact of long-term care needs on the socioeconomic deprivation of older people and their families: results from a scoping review
Abstract Background Long-term care (LTC), poverty, and socioeconomic deprivation are globally significant social issues. Ongoing population aging trends and the recent social and health emergencies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis have highlighted the need for macro-level LTC and welfare system sustainability strategies. At the micro level, the relationship between LTC needs and the risk of socioeconomic deprivation and poverty should be taken into account to promote more targeted and innovative policies worldwide. This scoping review explores the relationship between LTC needs, the health status of older people, and the risk of socioeconomic deprivation for their families in order to…
Long-term care needs and the risk of household poverty across Europe: A comparative secondary data study
Abstract Population ageing and rising poverty are two of the most pressing issues today, even in Western European nations. In parallel, the risk of poverty is also growing as a result of the recent global economic crisis and the COVID-19 containment measures, which have reduced individual and collective productivity and had a negative impact on household income. This study intends to explore the relationship between long-term care (LTC) needs and the risk of poverty at the household level in eight European countries selected to represent the different care regimes in Europe. The main international databases were scoured for study variables. These variables were categorized according to the …
Disability in Older People and Socio-Economic Deprivation in Italy: Effects on the Care Burden and System Resources
The sustainability of European Long-Term Care systems faces the demographic and socio-economic circumstances, mainly the increasing ageing of the population, with its chronic disease conditions, and the simultaneous economic general crises, exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the increase in general rate of relative poverty, there is a higher risk of poverty among elderly and families in a high demand of care, especially if situations of Activities Daily Living (ADL) disability are present. Italian welfare, which is based on family care regimes and regional strategies, and is oriented to private or public care, is a relevant case study with which to analyze such a relationsh…
New Older Users’ Attitudes Toward Social Networking Sites and Loneliness: The Case of the Oldest-Old Residents in a Small Italian City
Older adults make little use of social networking sites (SNS). SNS has become essential for maintaining social contacts and countering loneliness in the current era marked by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study explores the attitudes of the oldest-old on SNS after attending a training course on SNS use. The study’s goals are to investigate their personal experiences, choices of use and to survey their views on the usefulness of SNS and its effects on mitigating loneliness for older people. The interviews were conducted in the context of the “Ageing in a Networked Society—Social Experiment Study.” The participants, who were randomly selected for the course on SNS use, agreed to be interviewed…
Innovating European Long-Term Care Policies through the Socio-Economic Support of Families: A Lesson from Practices
LTC 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. …