Informal caregivers in Italy: the ‘phantom zone’ of welfare

Andrea Cioffi; Camilla Cecannecchia; Benedetta Baldari; Michele Ahmed Antonio Karaboue

doi:10.23750/abm.v94i1.13660

Informal caregivers in Italy: the ‘phantom zone’ of welfare

Authors

Andrea Cioffi Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Italy.
Camilla Cecannecchia Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Benedetta Baldari Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Michele Ahmed Antonio Karaboue Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Italy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v94i1.13660

Keywords:

National Social Insurance Agency, Caregivers, Handicap, Disability, Social care

Abstract

Medical progress and the consequent gradual ageing of the population increase the number of people in Europe who require continuous care, as they suffer from chronic diseases or senility. This demand is disproportionate if compared to the economic resources of health systems and is, therefore, heavily supported by the activity of the so-called "informal caregivers". With our article we propose to depict the current scenario in Italy, dwelling on the safeguards, to date, aimed at informal caregivers, which are insufficient to correct the criticalities associated with the burdensome assistance provided by such figures. Such critical issues result in a real risk for the health of informal caregivers and their loved ones and require urgent action by the health system. If it is true that health welfare is not able to protect the increasing number of people who are not self-sufficient, it is necessary to invest at least on specific measures to preserve the health and skills of those who are at the forefront of this hidden welfare. (www.actabiomedica.it)

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