Patrick Bremer1, David Challis2, Ingalill Rahm Hallberg3, Helena Leino-Kilpi4, Kai Saks5, Bruno Vellas6, Sandra M G Zwakhalen7, Dirk Sauerland8. 1. Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58448 Witten, Germany. Electronic address: patrick.bremer@uni-wh.de. 2. University of Manchester, United Kingdom. 3. Lund University, Sweden. 4. University of Turku, Finland. 5. University of Tartu, Estonia. 6. University of Toulouse, France. 7. Maastricht University, Netherlands. 8. University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In order to contain public health care spending, European countries attempt to promote informal caregiving. However, such a cost reducing strategy will only be successful if informal caregiving is a substitute for formal health care services. We therefore analyze the effect of informal caregiving for people with dementia on the use of several formal health care services. STUDY DESIGN: The empirical analysis is based on primary data generated by the EU-project 'RightTimePlaceCare' which is conducted in 8 European countries. 1223 people with dementia receiving informal care at home were included in the study. METHODS: Using a regression framework we analyze the relationship between informal care and three different formal health care services: the receipt of professional home care, the number of nurse visits and the number of outpatient visits. RESULTS: The relationship between formal and informal care depends on the specific type of formal care analyzed. For example, a higher amount of informal caregiving goes along with a lower demand for home care services and nurse visits but a higher number of outpatient visits. CONCLUSION: Increased informal caregiving effectively reduces public health care spending by reducing the amount of formal home care services. However, these effects differ between countries.
BACKGROUND: In order to contain public health care spending, European countries attempt to promote informal caregiving. However, such a cost reducing strategy will only be successful if informal caregiving is a substitute for formal health care services. We therefore analyze the effect of informal caregiving for people with dementia on the use of several formal health care services. STUDY DESIGN: The empirical analysis is based on primary data generated by the EU-project 'RightTimePlaceCare' which is conducted in 8 European countries. 1223 people with dementia receiving informal care at home were included in the study. METHODS: Using a regression framework we analyze the relationship between informal care and three different formal health care services: the receipt of professional home care, the number of nurse visits and the number of outpatient visits. RESULTS: The relationship between formal and informal care depends on the specific type of formal care analyzed. For example, a higher amount of informal caregiving goes along with a lower demand for home care services and nurse visits but a higher number of outpatient visits. CONCLUSION: Increased informal caregiving effectively reduces public health care spending by reducing the amount of formal home care services. However, these effects differ between countries.
Authors: Marcus F Johansson; Kevin J McKee; Lena Dahlberg; Christine L Williams; Martina Summer Meranius; Elizabeth Hanson; Lennart Magnusson; Björn Ekman; Lena Marmstål Hammar Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2021-06-02 Impact factor: 3.921
Authors: Maria Gabriella Melchiorre; Sabrina Quattrini; Giovanni Lamura; Marco Socci Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-09 Impact factor: 3.390