The impact of family care on the well-being of providers and recipients of long-term care: A cross-sectional study of five European countries

In recent decades there have been significant demographic changes in European countries, which are expected to have both short-term and long-term consequences. Progressive population ageing is one aspect of these changes, due to the combination of longer life expectancy and decreasing birth rates. By 2050, 28.5 per cent of the population of the current EU countries will be aged 65 and over up from 19.7 per cent in 2018 and the number of people aged 85 years or more is expected to more than double (Eurostat, 2019). Population ageing is likely to result in a greater societal burden of care, although reduced morbidity among older adults will offset some of the impact of population aging. Nevertheless, there is likely to be a much greater demand for long-term care (LTC) in European countries by 2050 (European Commission, 2015a). European countries have developed a range of programmes and services in order to satisfy LTC needs (Ranci and Pavolini, 2013), although family members are expected to continue to play a key role. Against the backdrop of different national trajectories and models, a progressive reorganization of LTC systems is under way, involving a far-reaching reorganisation of the public provision of care (Luppi and Nazio, 2017).