What type of familialism is relevant for Lithuania? The case of elderly care. Issue 2 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Žalimienė, Laimutė; Blažienė, Inga; Junevičienė, Jolita
• Is Part Of: Journal of Baltic studies. Volume 51:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Familialism -- de-familialism -- formal elderly care services -- labor market measures for caring relatives -- public opinion toward elderly care -- Lithuania; Baltic States -- Periodicals; 947.9005
• DOI: 10.1080/01629778.2020.1746368
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0162-9778

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In Lithuania, elderly care is still strongly reliant upon the informal sector, while recent efforts to develop a policy of de-familialism using welfare state arrangements have so far been very vague. This article uses the concept of familialism to assess whether the infrastructure of elderly care services and labor market measures developed in the country are adequate in the light of social-demographic changes taking place in the country and the expectations of the future elderly population (over 50 years old). Where the expectations reflect high levels of normative solidarity and preconditions for supported familialism, rapid emigration of young people, high employment among women, and the growing share of single-person households reflect the need to develop a dual-supported familialism–de-familialism policy model in the nearest future in order to meet elderly care needs.