Informal Care Regimes and Aging: The ‘Care Chain' in Rural Greece

Abstract

The gradual ageing of society has a considerable impact on the need for improved care services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. This research aims to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of informal service provision, as well as the facilitators and constraints to such activities in rural Greece. This article's starting point is a field research conducted in communities in two distant Greek municipalities. This study aims to characterize the reality of dependent older and disability people regarding their demographic and residential characteristics, to describe their informal carers and understand the availability of informal care. The article compares and contrasts variances of the place of living as a factor in the creation of a distinct care and support regime provided to the elderly and disabled. The article examines geographical patterns and their implications for residents' access to social welfare and the health-care market. By incorporating the unique aspects of place of residency into the analysis of informal welfare regimes, the article makes a contribution.