[Migrants as 24/7 caregivers?]

Anthropological research on formal and informal migrant caregivers for the elderly in Italy shows how the government welcomes or tolerates these migrants because they are indispensable in Italy, where the imbalance between fertility and aging places great pressure on families with dependent (grand)parents. The presence of migrant caregivers in the country is very high, as it is in several other, primarily southern European countries. The question is whether such a (possibly adjusted) contribution from migrants is also possible and desirable in the Netherlands. Currently, the contribution of migrants to healthcare in general is lower in the Netherlands than in neighboring countries. This contribution does not focus on professional healthcare, but on in-home, 24/7 elderly care, which primarily consists of companionship, supervision, and household tasks for elderly people who can no longer live independently and for whom family members cannot provide the necessary care.