Informal home care for elderly in Belgium: a study on the features and challenges of informal care at local level.
In Belgium, and in other OECD countries, there is a growing awareness about the importance of informal home care for the elderly's well-being. Informal care is considered as an intrinsically valuable social phenomenon. Public authorities in Belgium have been advocating an active policy of support for informal carers. In 2007, an extensive survey was carried out in the Belgian municipality of Kruibeke in order to establish a better picture of the various needs of the elderly in their home situation, but also to better understand the way in which informal care is provided and perceived by care receivers and care givers. The study points to the need for support for the difficult burden of informal care and highlights the need for a coordinated and integrated approach to elderly care.
Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium, bcriel@itg.be.
Bart
B
Criel
Veerle
V
Vanlerberghe
Benedicte
B
De Koker
Bieke
B
Decraene
Elke
E
Engels
Riet
R
Waltens
D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires