SOCIAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY The elderly and social services The . In all advanced industrial societies, the proportion of infirm elderly is on the increase and although they make up only a small minority of the population, their on social services is excessively heavy. Social care for the elderly is often , so most countries give full support to the promotion of family care and the expansion and rationalisation of informal care on a voluntary or quasi-voluntary basis. Paradoxically, the majority of elderly people lead independent lives, seldom benefiting from personal social services. elderly are now the largest group using personal social services worldwide retired claim labour -intensive 1 WARM UP a. about 300,000 b. about 3 million c. about 30 million • In your opinion, how many old people need sodai care in ltaly? MORE The word 'labour' is used to referto hard physical work. For this reason it is also used to refer to the process of childbirth (ltalian travagllo). 1 Types of services Local authorities, such as the , or authorised private structures provide social care services for the elderly. They provide practical and financial support to them to live independently in their own homes, or guide them through the options available if they are no longer able to live alone. Services are provided directly to the person in need or as a sort of support to family members who take care of the elderly. The services include: residential and nursing care, , day centres, lunch clubs, , homecare services, financial help for pensioners, and bus passes for the elderly. city councils health care units enable sheltered housing ‘meals on wheels’ telecare Lunch clubs In the UK, the bring older people together to enjoy a hot nutritious meal and socialise with friends at the same time. There are 450 community centres and lunch clubs across England, Scotland and Wales. They generally meet once a month, but the meal is just one part of the lunchtime experience. It is a social occasion as much as a nutritional one. The Royal Voluntary Service encourages healthy eating. For those not used to cooking for themselves, usually men who have lost their wives, teach them how to cook a healthy meal. Royal Voluntary Service Lunch Clubs carers 1 DO The average salary for a carer (or caregiver) in ltaly is € 9 per hour. Do you think it is enough? 1