Cura degli anziani, scelte lavorative e salute

[Machine translation] Over the last few decades, the decline in births and the simultaneous lengthening of the average lifespan have changed the demographic balance of Europe and most industrialized countries. The new structure involves a reduction in the size of younger generation cohorts, more than offset by an increase in the number of elderly people. Aging is associated with a progressive deterioration in people's state of health and, consequently, with an increased need for treatment. These can be provided formally, that is, by qualified and remunerated personnel, or informally, by relatives, friends or neighbors who dedicate their time to assist the person who is not self-sufficient. The term used to designate those who provide informal care is caregiver, or 'care giver'., Within the family unit, it is mainly women who are responsible for the care of the most fragile individuals. In particular, with regard to the care of the elderly, the most represented category is that of female daughters, often crushed between responsibilities for children who are not yet autonomous and care for elderly parents and for this reason defined, together with their peers, as a “sandwich generation. , The chapter is inspired by these considerations to analyze, through the contribution of literature, individual and family allocation choices in providing assistance to elderly parents or relatives in Europe and Western countries. In particular, the effects on the work level and the possible repercussions on health related to the most represented category of caregivers, that of female daughters, are studied.