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Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the influence of the recent economic crisis on the quality of long-term care for older people in Belgium and the Netherlands. A mixed-method approach was applied, primarily focused on conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews with health professionals working in a management role in organizations providing long-term care for older people. The results show that Dutch organizations seem to be prepared for the influences of the economic crisis on the quality of its care provision primarily in terms of a sound system readiness. At the same time, Belgian organizations seem to be prepared for the influences of the economic crisis on the quality of its care provision primarily in terms of a favorable sociopolitical context. Comparing two countries allows for reciprocal lesson-drawing. The conclusion drawn in this study is that a sustainable long-term care system requires above all stability and structure.
Notes
1. “Double aging” refers here to the process wherein not only the share of people aged 65+ in a population grows, but also the share of people aged 80+ within that group of people aged 65+.
2. “Informal caregivers” refers here to volunteers, family members, and friends.
3. In Belgium, primarily the communities (much more than the federal government) are responsible for long-term care for older people. No information was provided by the respondents on the situation in the French Community and the German-speaking Community, but only on the Flemish Community (of which the Belgian Province of Limburg is part).
4. Government refers here to the Flemish Government.
5. Not to be confused with the notion of “structure” as applied by Donabedian within the context of assessing quality of care.