Abstract
With the extensive long-term care services for older people, the Nordic countries have been labeled ‘caring states’ (Leira, 1992). The emphasis on services and not cash benefits, ensures the Nordics a central place in the public service model (Anttonen & Sipilä, 1996). The main feature of this model is public social care services, which are provided within a formally and professionally based care system, where the main responsibility for the organization, provision and financing of care traditionally lays with the public sector. According to the principle of universalism (Anttonen et al, 2012), access to benefits is based on citizenship and need, not contributions nor merit. Also, care services are made available for all and generally used by all, with no stigma associated. Vabø and Szebehely (2012) further argue that the Nordic service universalism is more than merely issues of eligibility and accessibility, in that it also encompasses whether services are attractive, affordable and flexible in order to meet a diversity of needs and preferences. However, recent decades have seen a continuous tendency towards prioritization of care for the most frail, contributing to unmet need, informalization of care and privatization in the use of topping up with market-based services. These changes have raised questions about increasing inequalities within Nordic long-term care systems. We investigate in the article what effect changes have for equality across social class and gender, for users and informal carers. The article is based on comparable statistics and a review of national research literature and policy documents.
Info
Journal Article, 2022
UN SDG Classification
DK Main Research Area
Social Science
