Upside down : care perspectives when parents grow old

Who will take care of me when I grow older? It is a question everyone asks themself at some point in their life. We rely on pensions, on local and private services, and on a welfare state that provides support where needed. At the same time, the cost of old-age care is rising, and its affordability—such as the increasing cost of residential care facilities—is under growing pressure. Meanwhile, the welfare state has many expectations of citizens. Our society puts increasing emphasis on participation and self-reliance. Responsibilities and care are more frequently placed within families, neighbours, and social networks. As the care relationship between parents and their adult children shifts, this raises the question: what does it mean to take on a care responsibility for an ageing parent? In addition, the state places part of the financial responsibility for dependent parents on their adult children. This maintenance obligation constitutes a legal framework that transforms a family bond into a civic duty. At this intersection of personal, familial, and societal expectations, this dissertation examines three central questions: (1) What do parents and children expect from one another? (2) What does the welfare state expect from children in the care for their ageing parents? (3) And what do citizens, in turn, expect from the state? This dissertation investigates how expectations, motivations, and responsibilities regarding intergenerational solidarity are shaped. It further identifies the circumstances under which adult children, ageing parents, and institutional actors consider care and financial support to be just, desirable and fair.