Freedom of choice and dignity for the elderly

Abstract

"Life expectancy has increased in the past and will be increasing in the future. Especially European societies are witnessing the presence of an ever-rising number of very old persons, many of them in need of support and long-term care. This paper discusses European policy approaches which aim to support freedom of choice and dignity for older people with needs for long-term care. In the context of the Open Method of Coordination and, specifically, the procedures of the Peer Review, the Swedish national social protection policy has been chosen as point of departure. First, the policy debate on long-term care on the European and international level is treated. Secondly, the Swedish policy on long-term care will be described: its goals, resources, and implementation strategies. Thirdly, the results of the Swedish policy on long-term care are presented and its implications for the member states of the EU are discussed (The contribution of good practice in Sweden to the European policy debate and its transferability to European member states will be in the focus of this section, as well). Fourthly, the policy debate on long-term care in Sweden will be discussed. Open questions and areas of debate on the policy within Sweden and on the European level will be presented." (author's abstract)