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Socio-Economic Predictors of Hiring Live-In Migrant Care Workers to Support Community Dwelling Older Adults with Long-Term Care Needs: Recent Evidence from a Central Italian Region

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  • Oliver Fisher

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy
    Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy)

  • Paolo Fabbietti

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

  • Giovanni Lamura

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

Abstract

To meet the rising demand for home care, many families in Italy hire live-in migrant care workers (MCWs). However, the reliance on MCWs to provide long-term care (LTC) and a lack of alternative formal care services raises concerns around equality in access to care. This study aimed to determine the socio-economic predictors of hiring live-in MCWs among older adults with LTC needs in Italy, the objective care burden placed on MCWs, and the financial barriers that people in need of care and informal caregivers face when hiring MCWs, analysing data from a cross-sectional questionnaire with 366 older adults with LTC needs and their primary family caregivers living in the Marche region. Binary logistic regression was used to calculate the predictors of hiring a live-in MCW. Having a primary caregiver that had a high school education or above significantly increased the odds of hiring a live-in MCW (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.880), as did receiving a social pension (OR = 2.258). Over half (57.5 percent) of the people in need of care had difficulties in affording the costs of hiring an MCW in the past year. To increase the sustainability of the Italian MCW market and reduce socio-economic barriers to accessing care, the Italian Government should increase funding for LTC benefits and add means testing and restrictions on the use of cash-for-care allowances.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Fisher & Paolo Fabbietti & Giovanni Lamura, 2021. "Socio-Economic Predictors of Hiring Live-In Migrant Care Workers to Support Community Dwelling Older Adults with Long-Term Care Needs: Recent Evidence from a Central Italian Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5349-:d:552107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Gabriella Melchiorre & Sabrina Quattrini & Giovanni Lamura & Marco Socci, 2022. "Role and Characteristics of Personal Care Assistants of Frail Older People with Functional Limitations Ageing in Place in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Sara Santini & Matteo Finco & Flavia Galassi, 2022. "Education and Employment of Refugees and Migrants in the Formal Elderly Healthcare Sector: Results from an Online Survey in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Maria Gabriella Melchiorre & Marco Socci & Sabrina Quattrini & Giovanni Lamura & Barbara D’Amen, 2022. "Frail Older People Ageing in Place in Italy: Use of Health Services and Relationship with General Practitioner," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-26, July.

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