Financing and Provision of Long-Term Care in Europe: Reflections on Intergenerational Solidarity in Care for Older People

Increasing demand for long-term care (LTC) in Europe amid population ageing has challenged how states will evolve to respond to changing needs and questions the younger generations' willingness to support future care for older people. Using novel data from the InCARE survey (September 2021-March 2022), we investigate age-related attitudes towards the family's and state's role in financing and organising LTC, and whether caregiving experience or care regime type mediates these differences. Ordered logistic regressions indicate upward intergenerational solidarity of younger adults towards public responsibility relative to middle-aged individuals across countries, but also a stronger perceived obligation to provide care, despite potential negative career impacts. Caregiving experience mediates attitudes to informal care among mid-aged individuals, driven by intensity in care. Differences in attitudes across care regimes associate with differing levels of state generosity, where individuals in states with less responsibility for LTC are more supportive of the family's role in financing and providing care. Intergenerational differences in attitudes emerge predominantly where state support is less generous and greater responsibility is placed on the family. Our findings suggest the younger generation is generally likely to be supportive of a sustained role of the state in protecting against risks associated with LTC. Support for the state relative to familial obligations is strong among all age groups and across care regimes, suggesting LTC is recognised as a social risk deserving of coverage under social protection schemes and points to the substantial envisioned role of the state in protecting against finance and well-being risks associated with care in future.