Main actors of care and local care regimes in two studied locations

The chapter opens with a review of typologies of care actors in elderly care and the authors’ proposed typology. It offers an overview of the Polish care regime and presents its two local realizations: local care regimes of the two researched Polish localities. These ethno care regimes are performed locally by networks of actors of care: families, public and market institutions, third-sector organizations and nonfamilial individuals. Subsequently, the authors explain how local care regimes transnationalize with the outbound migration of family carers and employees of public institutions. The transnationalization alters local care arrangements and opens the way to social remittances that concern care. The chapter is concluded by contrasting the two local care regimes in the Polish towns studied. Drawing upon this evaluation, the authors suggest that the town with a more advanced reflection on aging displays a proactive approach by implementing a number of innovations, also building upon local solutions, such as engaging neighbors in care over the elderly inhabitants lacking family support.