Role and Characteristics of Personal Care Assistants of Frail Older People with Functional Limitations Ageing in Place in Italy

Maria Gabriella Melchiorre, Sabrina Quattrini, Giovanni Lamura and Marco Socci
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Maria Gabriella Melchiorre: Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Sabrina Quattrini: Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Giovanni Lamura: Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Marco Socci: Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: When older people become frail with functional limitations, and age alone in place, caring support is fundamental for performing daily living activities. The present study aimed to explore the current role and characteristics of privately hired Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) of older people in Italy, in light of the decreasing care availability of the family and the low provision of public services. In the study “Inclusive ageing in place” (IN-AGE), 120 qualitative interviews were carried out in 2019, involving frail older people living at home in three Italian regions: Lombardy, Marche, and Calabria. A content analysis was conducted, in addition to some simple quantifications of statements. Results showed the support of PCAs in 27 cases, mainly when health issues of seniors were referred. In addition, informal and irregular employment contracts were reported. Moreover, a comparison between PCA and Domestic Home Help (DHH, 44 cases), highlighted how they even more provide very similar functions (i.e., home and personal care). The role of PCA emerged as crucial in Italy, especially in the South. Thus, to boost up home services seems necessary for allowing ageing in place, also by integrating PCAs in formal public Long-Term Care (LTC), and by providing incentive systems for regular hiring.

Keywords: ageing in place; living alone; frail older people; functional limitations; personal care assistant; domestic home help; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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