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From the state to the family or to the market? Consequences of reduced residential eldercare in S weden
Author(s) -
Ulmanen Petra,
Szebehely Marta
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of social welfare
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1468-2397
pISSN - 1369-6866
DOI - 10.1111/ijsw.12108
Subject(s) - universalism , welfare state , social welfare , state (computer science) , welfare , business , psychology , gerontology , medicine , political science , algorithm , politics , computer science , law
This article analyses the changing roles of the state, family and market in providing care for older people in S weden, in relation to S candinavian welfare ideals of universalism and de‐familisation. Since 2000 every fourth residential care bed has disappeared and the increase in homecare services has not compensated for the decline. Instead family care (defined here as help from adult children and other non‐cohabiting family or friends) has increased in all social groups: help by daughters mainly among older people with shorter education and help by sons among those highly educated. Use of privately purchased services has also increased but continues to play a marginal role. Family care remains more common among older people with less education whereas privately purchased services are more common among those with higher education. This dualisation of care challenges universalism, and working‐class daughters continue to be most affected by eldercare cutbacks.