Socioeconomic Inequality in Unmet Long-Term Care Needs

Abstract

Europe’s rapidly ageing population poses critical challenges for long-term care (LTC) systems, particularly guaranteeing equitable access. While socio-economic disparities in LTC utilisation are well documented, inequalities in unmet needs—the gap between required and received care—are less studied. Using the 2019 European Health Interview Survey for Spain, we quantify the care gap in hours and classify unmet needs as full, partial, or none. (...)