Inequalities in long‑term care are evident across Europe, yet stakeholders rarely name them, relying instead on softer terms like differences or disparities. Prof Alexandra Lopes from University of Porto argues that this silence makes visibility even more urgent, urging international forums to prioritise the issue. While she critiques the trend in the EU to develop one‑size‑fits‑all approaches, she recognises the value of EU institutions in sustaining pressure. As with poverty and disability, soft governance can still shift agendas: shared indicators, comparison and “family‑photo” exposure encourage governments to act. By placing inequality at the centre of debate, European institutions can again use naming‑and‑shaming to confront long‑term care disparities.
Read the full interview at this link.
