Europe’s Care Systems at Risk—Caritas Europa Launches Caritas CARES Report on the Care Sector
The number of people in need of care in the EU is projected to rise from 30.8 million in 2019 to 38.1 million in 2050, but currently, there are more people in need of care than places and care workers available. Moreover, public spending is not keeping pace. On June 26, 2023, Caritas Europa launched its latest report, which analyses the care sector’s challenges in 13 European countries and calls for more investments, better labour conditions for care workers and improved access to care for those who need it.
Caritas is one of Europe’s largest social-service providers. In the “Growing Old with Dignity: Challenges of Long-Term Care in Europe” Report, Caritas outlines the current complex situation which is characterised by severe job shortages and a lack of affordable care services. By analysing the root causes of various problems, the Report proposes concrete solutions. Higher wages, better working conditions, regularisation of informal and irregular care workers as well as more investments in non-for-profit care providers are among some of the most promising remedies to ensure accessible and affordable quality care for all.