Why addressing the needs of informal carers is a crucial issue for Europe

Demographic ageing in Europe leads to a growing incidence of age-related diseases, a growing demand for care and a serious sustainability challenge for our social and health care systems. Against this backdrop, community care has become a prominent EU priority in the last few years and the shift towards home-based care is seen as a practical measure to contain the costs of services while also seconding widespread preferences among the elderly for being cared for in their own home.