Increase in Informal Care Has Negative Impact on Well-being
Sociologist Maura Gardeniers studied health, care, and well-being following the healthcare reforms of 2015. She demonstrates that these reforms have led to changes in how care is organized and experienced but have not had a significant impact on health, well-being, or the perceived adequacy of care. However, there has been an increase in the use of informal care, which often negatively affects the well-being of both older adults and their caregivers. This highlights the need to better support informal caregivers and to focus more on preventive healthcare to manage the growing demand for care.
Gardeniers provides insight into the impact of the healthcare reforms. Population aging is one of the greatest challenges of our time. She shows what is important for older adults, caregivers, policymakers, and care providers. Gardeniers advises better integration of informal and formal care to enable older adults to live at home longer without overburdening caregivers. Practical applications include technologies such as care apps and smart alert systems, as well as fall prevention programs and community initiatives to strengthen informal care networks.
Gardeniers explains: "In 2015, responsibility for long-term elderly care was transferred from the national government to municipalities. Municipalities had to fulfill this responsibility with a budget 30% lower than what the national government had spent in previous years. I analyzed trends in health, care usage, and well-being during the period surrounding these reforms, using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). LASA has been following cohorts of older adults since the 1990s and collects data every three years on their health, care, and well-being."
Gardeniers' findings align with current themes such as labor shortages in healthcare and the demand for affordable and sustainable solutions. For example, AI could help plan care more efficiently in the future. In just a few years, measures such as home modifications and better support for caregivers could have noticeable effects. Her research contributes to the well-being of older adults and to a society where everyone can age with dignity.
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