Local Networks in the Provision of Long-term Care Services in Serbia - a View from the South-East of Europe

Abstract

This paper is focused on social support networks in providing long-term care services for elderly along a centre-periphery divide in Serbia. Long-term care is fragmented at Republic and local levels between the social assistance and health care, residential and community based services, state and private service providers with consequential (negative) effects on coverage, quality and sustainability of services. Against this background, available literature points to numerous advantages of networking. The analysis, which is substantiated by four semi-structured expert interviews, reveals the dominance of ego-centred networks over the thematic ones at the local level which are rudimentary existent. Improvement of networking requires the mobilisation of all stakeholders and the identification and allocation of leadership and moderation tasks.