Factors of Care Poverty

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter sums up existing knowledge on factors of care poverty. The findings of earlier research are presented separately for different care poverty domains and measurement approaches. The factors are organised into three variable groups: (1) health and functional status, (2) socio-demographic background, and (3) the availability of informal and formal care. Health and functional status are found to be significantly associated with all three domains of care poverty. Despite some variation across socio-demographic factors, they generally prove not to be the strongest factors of care poverty, though in many studies income is associated with care poverty. Concerning the breadth of informal and formal support, living arrangement holds explanatory power in almost all domains of care poverty, but the findings are considerably less clear for the other variables. Overall, older people with major care needs who live alone and also have a low income level prove to be at highest risk for care poverty.