Reducing the burden of spousal caregivers

In order to counteract the rising costs of ageing populations, trends towards deinstitutionalisation, privatisation and marketisation of formal care can be observed in many countries. Yet, the results of a new study by Melanie Wagner, researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy, and Martina Brandt suggest that the opposite would be a far more beneficial strategy. Investing in the provision of easily accessible formal care resources is crucial for the well-being of particularly spousal caregivers who bear the main burden. The researchers used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) that is coordinated at the Institute.

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