Financiación, legalización y calidad en el cuidado de 24 horas en la vejez en Alemania: perspectivas e intereses

Abstract

The market for 24-hour old age care in Germany is a complex sector where the lack of legalization and regularization has resulted in a system with a large share of informal employment, abusive working conditions and semi-legal practices by intermediary agencies. Until now, the German government has largely tolerated this development, closing its eyes to widespread violations of labor and social rights in private homes. This article sheds light on this system through the analysis of the perspectives and interests of several actors involved in perpetuating the 24-hour care market: families, private brokerage agencies and welfare associations. The article is based on the analysis of qualitative data collected in the framework of the project “Emergence and Significance o f T ransnational C are Arrangements (ESTRANCA)”.