IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i13p7277-d584727.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Formal and Informal Care of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Cross-National Clustering of Empirical Evidence from 23 Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Aviad Tur-Sinai

    (Department of Health Systems Management, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
    School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642-8404, USA)

  • Netta Bentur

    (The Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997801, Israel)

  • Paolo Fabbietti

    (INRCA IRCCS—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Giovanni Lamura

    (INRCA IRCCS—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been dramatically affecting the life of older adults with care needs and their family caregivers. This study illustrates how the initial outbreak of the pandemic changed the supply of formal and informal care to older adults in European countries and Israel and assesses the resilience of these countries in providing support to their older populations by means of a mix of both types of care. We subjected data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe COVID-19 period (SHARE-COVID-19) across 23 European countries (including Israel) to descriptive and cluster analyses. In the first wave of the outbreak, a significant proportion of older adults in European countries received informal help, with an increase in the frequency of informal help received from children, neighbors, friends, or colleagues and a decrease in that received from other relatives. In most countries, difficulties in receiving home care services from professional providers were reported. Seven clusters were identified, reflecting different combinations of changes in the formal/informal care provision. In most countries, informal care is more resilient than home care services that formal providers deliver. Since they are an essential source for sustainable care, their challenges related to care should be addressed. The impact of the pandemic does not follow the traditional characterization of welfare regimes. A clustering effort may yield more understanding of the priorities that future care policies should exhibit at the national level and may identify potential systems for policymakers to enhance sustainability of care for community-dwelling older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Aviad Tur-Sinai & Netta Bentur & Paolo Fabbietti & Giovanni Lamura, 2021. "Impact of the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Formal and Informal Care of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Cross-National Clustering of Empirical Evidence from 23 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7277-:d:584727
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/7277/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/7277/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andy Sumner & Christopher Hoy & Eduardo Ortiz-Juarez, 2020. "Estimates of the impact of COVID-19 on global poverty," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-43, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Marjolein I. Broese van Groenou & Alice Boer, 2016. "Providing informal care in a changing society," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 271-279, September.
    3. Esping-Andersen, Gosta, 1999. "Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198742005.
    4. Ashraf, Badar Nadeem, 2020. "Economic impact of government interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: International evidence from financial markets," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    5. Kieran Walsh & Thomas Scharf & Norah Keating, 2017. "Social exclusion of older persons: a scoping review and conceptual framework," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 81-98, March.
    6. Tisdell, Clement A., 2020. "Economic, social and political issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 17-28.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Aviad Tur-Sinai & Netta Bentur & Giovanni Lamura, 2022. "Perceived deterioration in health status among older adults in Europe and Israel following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1243-1250, December.
    2. Sara Santini & Marco Socci & Paolo Fabbietti & Giovanni Lamura & Andrea Teti, 2022. "Factors Worsening and Mitigating the Consequences of the COVID-19 Outbreak on the Overall Health of Informal Caregivers of Older People with Long-Term Care Needs Living in Germany and in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Maria Gabriella Melchiorre & Stefania Cerea & Marco Socci & Giovanni Lamura, 2023. "Social Networks, Use of Communication Technology, and Loneliness of Frail Older People Ageing in Place in Italy: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Di Novi, Cinzia & Martini, Gianmaria & Sturaro, Caterina, 2023. "The impact of informal and formal care disruption on older adults’ psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Arielle Kaim & Tuvia Gering & Amiram Moshaiov & Bruria Adini, 2021. "Deciphering the COVID-19 Health Economic Dilemma (HED): A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Aleksandra Lapko & Ewa Hacia & Lovorko Lucic, 2021. "Nautical Tourism in Croatia and the COVID-19 Pandemic," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2B), pages 308-319.
    3. Nicu Gavriluță & Silviu-Petru Grecu & Horia Costin Chiriac, 2022. "Sustainability and Employability in the Time of COVID-19. Youth, Education and Entrepreneurship in EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, January.
    4. Bogdan Ștefanachi & Silviu-Petru Grecu & Horia Costin Chiriac, 2022. "Mapping Sustainability across the World: Signs, Challenges and Opportunities for Democratic Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-28, May.
    5. Conțiu Tiberiu Șoitu & Silviu-Petru Grecu & Romeo Asiminei, 2022. "Health Security, Quality of Life and Democracy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparative Approach in the EU-27 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-26, November.
    6. Giammanco, Maria Daniela & Gitto, Lara, 2020. "Government measures and economic activity during the COVID-19 outbreak: some preliminary short-term evidence from Europe," MPRA Paper 105072, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Ngai, L. Rachel & Pissarides, Christopher A., 2009. "Welfare policy and the distribution of hours of work," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 28698, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Gutiérrez-Romero, Roxana & Ahamed, Mostak, 2021. "COVID-19 response needs to broaden financial inclusion to curb the rise in poverty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    9. Narayan, Seema & Narayan, Paresh Kumar & Tobing, Lutzardo, 2021. "Has tourism influenced Indonesia’s current account?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 225-237.
    10. Sam Hickey & Tom Lavers & Miguel Niño-Zarazúa & Jeremy Seekings, 2018. "The negotiated politics of social protection in sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-34, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    11. Frances McGinnity & Emma Calvert, 2008. "Yuppie Kvetch? Work-life Conflict and Social Class in Western Europe," Papers WP239, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    12. Maria Iacovou, 2013. "The relationship between incomes and living arrangements: variation between countries, over the life course, and over time," ImPRovE Working Papers 13/15, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp.
    13. Yann Algan & Pierre Cahuc, 2006. "Job Protection: The Macho Hypothesis," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 22(3), pages 390-410, Autumn.
    14. Armando Aliu & Bekir Parlak & Dorian Aliu, 2015. "Hybrid structures: innovative governance, judicial and sociological approaches," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1747-1760, July.
    15. Erik Stam & Roy Thurik & Peter van der Zwan, 2010. "Entrepreneurial exit in real and imagined markets," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 19(4), pages 1109-1139, August.
    16. Malerba, Daniele, 2022. "Just transitions: A review of how to decarbonise energy systems while addressing poverty and inequality reduction," IDOS Discussion Papers 6/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    17. Ortal Slobodin & Ilia Plochotnikov & Idan-Chaim Cohen & Aviad Elyashar & Odeya Cohen & Rami Puzis, 2022. "Global and Local Trends Affecting the Experience of US and UK Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19: Twitter Text Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-17, June.
    18. de Palma, André & Vosough, Shaghayegh & Liao, Feixiong, 2022. "An overview of effects of COVID-19 on mobility and lifestyle: 18 months since the outbreak," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 372-397.
    19. Mahmud Rice, James & Goodin, Robert E. & Parpo, Antti, 2006. "The Temporal Welfare State: A Crossnational Comparison," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(3), pages 195-228, December.
    20. Eric Crettaz, 2011. "Why Are Immigrants and Ethnic Minorities more Affected by Working Poverty? Theoretical Framework and Empirical Evidence Across Welfare Regimes," LIS Working papers 564, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7277-:d:584727. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.