Het draagvlak voor de participatiesamenleving: steun voor eigen verantwoordelijkheid bij de zorgverlening van hulpbehoevende ouderen

Abstract

This study has examined the public support for own responsibility concerning the care for elderly in need of help, by conducting an online survey under Dutch citizens. This study is suggesting that public support for own responsibility concerning the care for elderly in need is still lacking. Three theoretical approaches have been described and tested in order to explain this lack of support. The following has been concluded. 1) Self-interest of people has not explained the level of responsibility they had. No relation has been found between the level of responsibility and education and subjective income. 2) Value orientations have explained a small part of the level of responsibility. Higher church-attendance and preference for an even divided care between men and women for elderly, corresponded with a stronger preference for own responsibility. Gender, traditional values, traditional roles and closeness of family could not sufficiently explain the level of responsibility. 3) Experiencing pressure has not sufficiently explained the level of responsibility people had. This study is therefore suggesting that the responsibility concerning the care for elderly in need of help can be partially explained by the values people have. More research is needed in order to further explain why this public support is still lacking.