Addressing Long-Term Care Needs in the Western Balkans

Insights on Informal Caregivers and Policy Recommendations

Bibliographic Data

ID19228663
AuthorsNatasa Todorovic (0000-0002-7378-5246, Center for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences), Milutin Vracevic (0000-0003-3144-4627, Center for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences)
Year2026
Volume74
Issue1
Pages136-149
Publication date2026-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueComparative Southeast European Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2701-8199 • E-ISSN: 2701-8202
PublisherDe Gruyter (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/soeu-2025-0062
OpenAlexW7162145280
LanguageEN
References cited4

The Western Balkans region is experiencing demographic ageing due to declining birth rates, increased life expectancy, and the emigration of working-age individuals. With an average life expectancy of 76.28 years and a healthy life expectancy of 67.26 years, there is an increasing need for robust long-term care (LTC) systems as family structures evolve. In the European Union (EU), over 80 % of care is informal. Our research, which was conducted at six sites in the Western Balkans and involved 3,900 participants, indicates that informal caregivers, primarily spouses and children, provide most of the care. In Albania, 94.7 % of LTC needs are met through family care, compared to 57.6 % in Serbia. The study offers insights into the LTC needs of older adults, people with disabilities (PWDs), and their families. It recommends supporting caregivers through training, respite services, and workforce-friendly policies. Ensuring sustainable LTC in the region requires the provision of systematic support for informal caregivers to address their mental, physical, and socio-economic needs

Emigration · European union · Expectancy theory · Family caregivers · Life expectancy · Long-term care · Older people · Respite care · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies

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