The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted and published an “own-initiative” opinion entitled “Towards a New Care Model for the Elderly: learning from the Covid-19 pandemic”. The opinion analyses various models of long-term care for people over the age of 65 who have lost their autonomy or who are dependent, particularly in institutional care settings, as well as assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the different models of care.
The opinion highlights the context of longer life-expectancies across Europe, noting the challenges and opportunities this presents, as well as related issues around autonomous, active and healthy ageing. Furthermore, the insufficient funding for care was identified as a significant issue, with Member State investment ranging from 0.3% to 3.7% of GDP. Whilst it was noted that this is linked to the individual care models themselves, it is also connected to the impact of policies resulting from the pandemic.
In addition to welcoming the European Commission’s announcement on the development of a European Care Strategy, the opinion makes a number of recommendations, including:
• Advocating for greater attention to be given to care for dependent older people with long-term care needs, with this mainstreamed into EU policymaking (in view of the ageing demographics)
• Proposing the establishment of a European Observatory for care for older people, to collect statistical data, compare good practices, identify structural weaknesses in national systems, as well as provision of technical support
• Urging the European Commission and the Member States to develop principles relating to care for older people within the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
• Calling for Member States to use EU Structural Funds and the Recovery Fund to provide funding to adapt housing, create cohabitation units, redevelop the various types of care home and invest in labour and services.
