ABSTRACT
This chapter overviews the social protection arrangements for dependent older people above retirement age and in need of long-term care in the European Union. The comparative report gives an inventory of social protection in macroeconomic, institutional and micro-terms, and a description of the ongoing political debate for change. In the more narrow definition of dependency referring to physical and mental aspects, it is inappropriate to identify older people as such with dependent persons. The variety illustrates the diversification that has taken place in the sector, and it was only possible within a context of a further expanding welfare state. Besides availability, affordability is also an important element in describing the degree of social protection. Given that caveat, reported levels in residential care differ on a scale of between one and five for the higher and lower group and between one and three in the case of community care.
