Alterspflege in der Schweiz

Who is responsible for care in old age when it can no longer be perceived by oneself and no one in the immediate environment can help? What institutional prerequisites are necessary for elderly assistance and care to be provided in a needs-oriented, continuous, and comprehensive manner?

The author addresses these questions based on three case vignettes. She examines, from a comparative perspective, how the offerings and organization of elderly assistance and care have developed in eight European countries between 1980 and 2006. One of the main findings of the European comparative study is that the welfare system, rather than the state structure, plays a central role in the specific design of elderly assistance and care in a country. Using a multi-level model, the author analyzes regional differences as well as the backgrounds and impacts of shifts in responsibilities among the various levels of government and actors in the organization of services. Strengthening social rights, ensuring access, and coordinating services are central elements for the further development of elderly assistance and care in Switzerland in the sense of integrated care.