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Comparing the cross-national impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care received by community-dwelling older adults in 2020 and 2021: restoring formal home care versus polarizing informal care?

Author

Listed:
  • Aviad Tur-Sinai

    (The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
    University of Rochester Medical Center)

  • Netta Bentur

    (Tel-Aviv University)

  • Paolo Fabbietti

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

  • Giovanni Lamura

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

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the supply of formal and informal home care to older adults in many countries across the world. This study aims to compare the initial picture of how the supply of formal and informal home care to older adults in European countries and Israel changed during the first pandemic year (from mid-2020 to mid-2021) and to examine the changes that these countries made in the provision of adequate care to older adults. Using data from the two COVID-19 waves of SHARE, we show that the provision of formal home care services improved in the investigated period, as in 2021 the share of those who reported difficulties in receiving formal home care dropped significantly compared to the previous year. By contrast, informal care provision patterns experienced a growing polarization, with some countries continuing in reporting a strong support from this source, and others moving towards a remarkable reduction in the help coming from informal networks. These findings can serve as a basis for the development of evidence-based recommendations that can inform future care policies at the national level and to implement more sustainable models for older adults living in the community.

Suggested Citation

  • Aviad Tur-Sinai & Netta Bentur & Paolo Fabbietti & Giovanni Lamura, 2024. "Comparing the cross-national impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care received by community-dwelling older adults in 2020 and 2021: restoring formal home care versus polarizing informal care?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:21:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10433-024-00800-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-024-00800-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Viola Burau & Michelle Falkenbach & Stefano Neri & Stephen Peckham & Iris Wallenburg & Ellen Kuhlmann, 2022. "Health system resilience and health workforce capacities: Comparing health system responses during the COVID‐19 pandemic in six European countries," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 2032-2048, July.
    2. Ricardo Rodrigues & Cassandra Simmons & Andrea E. Schmidt & Nadia Steiber, 2021. "Care in times of COVID-19: the impact of the pandemic on informal caregiving in Austria," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 195-205, June.
    3. Ariaans, Mareike & Linden, Philipp & Wendt, Claus, 2021. "Worlds of long-term care: A typology of OECD countries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(5), pages 609-617.
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