ABSTRACT

In 2001, roughly half a million people (4% of the Dutch population) received informal care from family members living outside their home, and a quarter of a million (2% of the Dutch population) received this care from acquaintances, such as friends, neighbours and work colleagues. This chapter addresses the two questions: what proportion of the adult Dutch population receives informal care from family members and acquaintances for health problems? To what extent do differences in the receipt of informal care correlate with differences in characteristics of the social network, taking into account the need for help, socio-economic status and receipt of professional care? The chapter demonstrates that adults with few social contacts receive care from their informal network less frequently. It is known from care for the elderly and care for psychiatric patients and for people with a learning disability that people can successfully be introduced to new contacts.