The support to the families for the elderly: The experience of Austria, Sweden and Hong-Kong

Abstract

The International Plan of Action for the Elderly gives the priority to the development of those policies which strengthen and supplement the supports to the families for the elderly. The reason for it is to be found out a suitable balance between the assistance of the family and the assistance of the government, that is to assist the family to bring responsibility towards the needs of their older members, adding the provision and care from outside to the family if necessary. The accesses the authority uses are classified in the three large categories: (1) Access of obligation; (2) Access of volition; and (3) Access of compensation. Combination of the accesses is possible. Government could help in the policy of taxes and housing, but also with support of the employers encouraging them to give benefits to the families. Gradually is more and more evident the need that the authority as well as the employers should develop new programs in order to meet the needs of contemporary families.