Transnational mobilities of care in old age

Abstract

The world’s population is ageing. Particularly industrialised countries in Europe and elsewhere are experiencing rapid growth in the number and proportion of older people in their societies. The economic and sociocultural challenges that population ageing poses to labour markets, welfare states and families in Europe have been dealt with extensively (e.g. Harper 2016). An area in which different challenges conflate and reinforce each other is that of long-term care (LTC) in old age. “LTC in old age” refers to all kinds of formal and informal care and support services provided to older people on a regular basis. LTC in old age is provided in different settings (at home, in day-care and short-stay services or in LTC facilities) by a network of care providers, including the family, public services, market-based and third sector organisations. With more people living longer, the demand for LTC services in old age is projected to rise steadily across European countries, raising concerns about the fiscal sustainability of LTC systems (Greve 2017). Other societal changes, such as the increased participation of women in the labour market, put additional pressure on policymakers to find affordable solutions for the delivery of good quality LTC services tailored to the diverse needs of older people. European countries are responding to the growing need for LTC against the backdrop of very different traditions and institutional contexts.