While the collective mind often associates old age with health problems, this period of life has become increasingly synonymous with residential autonomy across Europe as family involvement and/or the dissemination of at‑home support policies enable growing numbers of elderly people to remain in their homes for as long as possible (Tomassini, Glaser, Wolf, Broese van Groenou and Grundy, 2004; Trabut and Gaymu, 2016). Therefore, in facing the expected demographic ageing process (Blanpain and Chardon, 2010; Eurostat, 2011; Gaymu, 2017), concerns are emerging about these policies’ financial capacity to meet most older people’s expectations of ageing in place (i.e., at home). Questions similarly arise concerning the degree to which future generations of family caregivers will be involved (Pickard, 2015; Colombo, Llena-Nozal, Mercier and Tjadens, 2011).
Much international research has focused on the articulation between family care and public care services for the dependent elderly. Most studies in Europe describe different response patterns in which the northern countries are characterised by “at distance care” from family members and strong state intervention, while those in the south are more familialist with a higher tendency towards multigenerational cohabitation (Reher, 1998; Fontaine, Gramain and Vittwer, 2007; Hank, 2007; Dystra and Fokkema, 2011; Peyrache and Ogg, 2017). Although the forms of intervention vary, the first providers of care throughout Europe are relatives (Daatland and Lowenstein, 2005; Delbès, 2008), who remain engaged even when professional structures or services are available…