ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the main opportunities and challenges currently raised by the phenomenon of migrant care workers (MCWs) privately employed by Italian families for assisting dependent older people living in the community. It provides a brief introduction to the main features of the Italian long-term care (LTC) system together with an analysis of the role played by MCWs. The chapter explores main issues and consequences arising from the employment of MCWs in the Italian context, in terms of both main related opportunities and challenges at different levels. It gives an overview of future perspectives and possible policy options available to improve MCWs' competences and social integration in Italy as a destination country. The private employment of MCWs has been relieving family carers of dependent older people from the most burdensome care activities, especially in case of a live-in solution. Carers' burden might be a contributory factor even for elder abuse.
