Is Home Care Just a Trend That The Pandemic Brought About?
Friday, February 03, 2023 Tweet 
It is obvious that the landscape of European healthcare has changed as a result of the ageing population in Europe and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the healthcare system. The huge death toll and scientists' forecast that this pandemic is only a sign of a much grimmer future have prompted the EU to adopt a lifelong and comprehensive response.
FREMONT, CA: Despite not being the first or last pandemic, Covid-19 has immensely impacted people's lives. Even after two years, the pandemic still influences European policy priorities. An urgent demand for global healthcare policy reform has been made in response to the high death toll and forecast from scientists, that this epidemic is only a sign of a far grimmer future. Several legislative changes were brought about to create a more durable healthcare system. Numerous specialised disease control procedures are being established to support the current healthcare system and disease control.
It would be naive to blame the epidemic alone for the healthcare strain, which is also related to Europe's ageing population. The death record highlights Europe's ageing population by demonstrating the tendency to develop severe COVID-19 illness. Although ageing is a global issue, the rate at which people age greatly varies between nations. With a rapidly ageing population that has put the EU in second place, just behind Japan, it is soon becoming one of the most notable examples of demographic ageing.
The pandemic, along with the knowledge that the population is increasingly ageing, emphasises the need to create a more resilient healthcare system. However, the healthcare system must adapt to a whole new set of issues brought on by this ageing population.
Whether care is given at home or in facilities like assisted living or nursing homes, elderly individuals typically require more regular healthcare, even long-term care at some stages. A greater proportion of the population will rely on the infrastructure that is already in place to help them get by daily in the years to come. Most Europeans do not anticipate living with their relatives when they are elderly, in contrast to their Asian counterparts. Therefore, the potential strain that Europe's ageing population will place on healthcare facilities is greatly increased.
Regardless of the patient's age, home care has increased significantly over the past few years. This can be partly related to the COVID-19 pandemic since many individuals now choose to obtain medical care in the privacy of their own homes rather than visiting hospitals.
Recognising the increase in home healthcare, the EU plans to release a European Care Strategy. This plan will be centred on offering care that takes a comprehensive, lifelong approach. It is unclear how it plans to address the complexities of home healthcare, but it will be published concurrently with a proposal for a Council Recommendation on long-term care. These appear to support the Commission's assertion that the surge in home healthcare is a trend that won't end after the pandemic is over. Furthermore, however hypothetical, the Strategy that the Commission plans to present may be able to establish a network of support for people who want to provide informal care for the elderly.
