Unmet need for home care during the great recession: a comparative analysis of England and Ireland

J Aging Soc Policy. 2026 Jan 24:1-20. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2026.2615200. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Home care can be costly and time consuming to provide, and there is often limited public financing available to those with care needs. As a result, many adults experience unmet need and/or gaps in home-care support. This is particularly acute during times of austerity when budget constraints further limit public spending. This study examines determinants of unmet need for home-care support among adults over 50 in England and Ireland during the Great Recession. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging and the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging, we examine factors associated with unmet need, including the role of public financing. Findings reveal notable differences in the proportion reporting unmet need in England (38.0%) versus Ireland (66.1%). Wealth offered no clear protection against unmet need in either nation. Results regarding physical and cognitive vulnerabilities were mixed: In Ireland, activity limitations were linked to greater probability of unmet need. In England, poorer cognitive function was associated with lower probability of unmet need. Understanding the impact of public financing on unmet need during times of economic uncertainty is critical for evidence-based policymaking. Improved harmonization of international aging data is essential to support comparative analyses and facilitate international learning opportunities.

PMID:41579103 | DOI:10.1080/08959420.2026.2615200