The Family as an Informal Care Coordinator: A Case Analysis of Systemic Gaps in Integrated Elderly Care in the Czech Context

Overview

Suchopárková K, Holmerová I. The family as an informal care coordinator: a case analysis of systemic gaps in integrated care for older persons in the Czech context

This article focuses on the role of the family as an informal coordinator of care for seniors within the Czech health and social care system, specifically in the setting of a small town in the foothills of the Ore Mountains. It is based on a qualitative analysis of five case studies developed as part of the international research project BUILD, which maps experiences with care organization from the perspective of so-called “care triads,” i.e., the caregiver, the senior, and care professionals. Interviews with seniors, caregivers, and professionals reveal key systemic gaps that lead to caregiver overload, the need for improvisation, and inequalities in access to services. Regional specifics, such as limited availability of care and weak infrastructure, further complicate the situation. The case comparisons focus on the theme of coordination and illustrate the differences between situations where the family acts as an effective bridge between services and cases where the absence of support leads to care failure. The article discusses the impact of these findings on the quality of life of both seniors and caregivers and offers recommendations for strengthening integrated care in the local context, including support for family caregivers and systemic interconnection of services.

Keywords:

geriatrics – care coordination – informal care – family caregivers – integrated care – case analysis – systemic gaps – social and health services – caregiver psychological burden