Social Exclusion and Social Care

Abstract

So far in this book we have explored how older people are cared for in six European countries, discussing similarities and differences at the level of both care systems and individuals. Each of the countries presents a different national context. Formal care services are interventions in these different contexts: in Ireland, Italy and Greece, interventions are quite rare — usually to avoid, or in response to, a crisis arising from inadequacies in family care, income or insurance which leave an older person at risk. In these countries, the vast majority of older people depend on the context of family and community life for their care. Day care in Greek KAPIs is perhaps an exception because it is open access and aims to improve the general quality of life for older people, but its success owes much to the way KAPIs are part of their communities, drawing on substantial voluntary help. In other countries, notably Denmark and Norway, services are likely to be provided to any older person needing assistance, rather than being provided as a last resort. In the UK, services aim to provide assistance beyond a basic level of responding only to crises, but they are frequently criticized for being inadequate and means tested (Royal Commission on Long Term Care, 1999a).