Danish Home Care Policy and the Family: Implications for the United States

This paper provides an overview of reforms in Danish long-term care initiated in the early 1980s, describes the relationship between elder care in Denmark and the family, and considers implications for U.S. policy. The success of Denmark's community-based experimentation with new models of home...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aging & social policy 2006-11, Vol.18 (3-4), p.27-42
Main Authors: Stuart, Mary, Hansen, Eigil Boll
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult Care Services
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Caregivers
Community health care
Community Health Services - organization & administration
Community Services
community-based care
Danish elder care
Denmark
Elder care
Elderly
Family
Family Policy
Family Structure
Health Care Reform
Health Policy
Health technology assessment
Home Care
home care policy
Home Care Services - organization & administration
Home health care
Homes for the Aged - organization & administration
Humans
Long Term Care
Long term health care
Nursing homes
Nursing Homes - organization & administration
Older people
paid assistance
Social policy
United States
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Summary:This paper provides an overview of reforms in Danish long-term care initiated in the early 1980s, describes the relationship between elder care in Denmark and the family, and considers implications for U.S. policy. The success of Denmark's community-based experimentation with new models of home care and housing for the elderly resulted in a national decision to eliminate new construction of nursing homes and increase access to publicly funded home care. Lingering concern that the provision of paid assistance for the elderly could undermine family structure is allayed by the findings of a recent survey: Three-fourths of the elderly report seeing their children on a weekly or more frequent basis. Findings from the Danish experience provide evidence that community-based services can aid family caregivers, enable the frail elderly to live in the setting of their choice, and be cost-effective from a public policy perspective.
ISSN:0895-9420
1545-0821
DOI:10.1300/J031v18n03_03