title: An estimation of the value of informal care provided to dependent people in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to arrive at an approximation of the value of non-professional (informal) care provided to disabled people living within a household in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Survey on Disabilities, Autonomy and Dependency carried out in 2008 to obtain information about disabled individuals and their informal caregivers. We computed the total number of informal caregiving hours provided by main caregivers in Spain in 2008. The monetary value of informal care time was obtained using three different approaches: the proxy good method, the opportunity cost method and the contingent valuation method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total hours of informal care provided in 2008 were estimated at 4193 million and the monetary value ranged from EUR23,064 to EUR50,158 million depending on the method used. The value of informal care was estimated at figures equivalent to 1.73-4.90 % of the gross domestic product for that year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Informal care represents a very high social cost regardless of the estimation method considered. A holistic approach to care of dependent people should take into account the role and needs of informal caregivers, promote their social recognition and lead to policies that enhance efficient use of formal and informal resources.
authors.affiliation: University of Castilla La-Mancha, Research Seminar in Economics and Health, Toledo, Spain, juan.olivamoreno@uclm.es.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliva-Moreno
authors.forename: Luz María
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Peña-Longobardo
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vilaplana-Prieto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012945:Social Values; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce