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Home care in Europe: growing interest among decision makers, but little information available for policy development.

Genet, N. Home care in Europe: growing interest among decision makers, but little information available for policy development.: , 2010. 127-128 p. Abstract. Working Conference Health Services Research in Europe 'Where Research and Policy Meet', 8-9 april 2010, Den Haag.
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Research problem: Integrated systems of home care are assumed to be an adequate response to current and future challenges to health and social services that result from demographic and social developments. The interest in home care systems and the willingness to learn from foreign experiences is growing among policy makers, both at European level and in Member States. However, as comparable and up to date information on home care is lacking, it is unknown to what extent citizens in Europe have access to home care services and to what extent home care systems in Europe are prepared for growing demand and changing client preferences. The EU funded EURHOMAP-study aims to reduce the information gap on home care in Europe. Methods: An extensive set of information items has been developed on the basis of a systematic literature review and expert consultations. The items are grouped under the following headings: governance and regulation; financing; service delivery; needs assessment and allocation of services; and clients and informal carers. In 2009 and the beginning of 2010, the EURHOMAP consortium has gathered detailed information in 30 countries, on the basis of which structured country reports were written. Besides, panels of key informants in each country have answered standard questions related to hypothetical case descriptions concerning people in various needs of care. Main findings and conclusions: The EURHOMAP study has shown that in most European countries, in some way, home care has become a policy focus. However, the scope of home care (in terms of the proportion of the population receiving home care; expenditures on home care; and eligibility to publicly financed home care services) differs strongly across Europe. European countries have many problems with home care in common, such as lacking financial and human resources and poor coordination between social and home health care services, but responses are different. The information gathered will provide an overview of the situation of home care in Europe and enable the exchange of national experiences and solutions. Results from the EURHOMAP project serve to set a European agenda on home care and will result in suggestions for further research in this field. The link between research and policy: This project has been commissioned by the European Commission as a consequence of priorities formulated in the EC’s Programme of Community Action in the field of Public Health (2003-2008). In addition to this direct link with the Commission the project’s dissemination strategy has a strong focus on decision makers and researchers in all Member States. Experts that have been involved in each country will have an active role in dissemination and publication at the national level. Furthermore, international organizations that are involved in this project as Collaborative partners will be active in disseminating the results to their networks, which consist of policy makers and scientists. The Collaborative partners are the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; the European Forum for Primary Care; and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA). (aut. ref.)