Social Protection for Dependency in Old Age : A Study of the Fifteen EU Member States and Norway

This report is based on a comparative study on the social protection of the dependent elderly, commissioned by the Directorate-General V: Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs, Commission of the European Communities and the Belgian Minister of Social Affairs.

The report updated a previous one on six Member states and enlarged it to include the other Member States and Norway.

The aim of the project is to provide an overview of the social protection arrangements which are available in the EU Member States and Norway for dependent elderly people above normal retirement age and in need of long-term care.

The comparative study is concentrated on the needs of dependent elderly persons, without ignoring the fact that ageing is not synonymous with dependency.

There are several ways in which Europe's ageing population and its needs can be catered for.

The contributors to this text have opted for a holistic approach to the dependency risk in the present social protection system.

The study is intended not only to provide an overview of the present social protection arrangements for old age, but also to give some insight into future policies. The project was co-ordinated by members of the central study team of the Higher Institute of Labour Studies at the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium.