As the World Bank report indicates, care for seniors in Poland is not in good shape, and it could deteriorate further. “We face a decline in the number of informal caregivers, because those who currently fill this role will eventually need help themselves, and due to demographic reasons only some will find it. The result will be a growing demand for formal care services, which in turn will lead to further price increases”, notes Rzeczpospolita, which analyzes the report.
If we wish each other 100 years during the holidays, we shouldn’t forget to add “in good health”. Because care for seniors is not in good shape, and it could get worse, the World Bank report shows. The situation is unlikely to improve with the new law – writes Tuesday’s Rzeczpospolita.
Rz points out that World Bank (WB) research shows that only 4 percent of adult Poles have no fears about old age. The rest do, although many believe they will only require support after the age of 80. At the same time, the average healthy life expectancy in Poland is around 61 years.
The newspaper emphasizes that most people currently needing help remain in their own homes under the care of relatives. In 80 percent of cases, assistance for those struggling with independent functioning is provided informally, while institutions meet 20 percent of the demand.
“Care for relatives in need usually falls on women, who are often forced to give up work because they cannot combine all the roles life has placed on them. The report shows that those in the most difficult situation are members of the so-called ‘joint generation’ (aged 45–64), who are expected to work while simultaneously providing care for the youngest family members, i.e., grandchildren, and the oldest, i.e., parents”, it notes.
As it observes, Poland is in a phase of intense population aging, and the period of healthy life is shortening, particularly among women.
“We face a decline in the number of informal caregivers, because those who currently fill this role will eventually need help themselves, and due to demographic reasons only some will find it. The result will be a growing demand for formal care services, which in turn will lead to further price increases”, it adds.