Given growing caseloads, limited funding and staff shortages, the need for coordination in healthcare and elderly care is at an all-time high. This timely book conducts a cross-national analysis of coordination problems in healthcare and long-term care systems, providing novel insights on how to improve the lives of the elderly. This book focuses on four European welfare states with well-developed healthcare and long-term care systems: Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. It examines the two critical interfaces of the transition from hospital care to home care and integrated home care arrangements. Using empirical data and extensive interviews with major stakeholder organisations, the authors identify best practice examples of healthcare and long-term coordination. The book ultimately considers both professional-level and system-level coordination problems, suggesting original solutions in financing reform, institutionalisation, and academisation. Healthcare and Elderly Care in Europe will be a fascinating read for scholars and students interested in health policy, long-term care, the sociology of health, welfare states and comparative public policy. It will also be a valuable guide for policymakers seeking to design effective healthcare and long-term care systems.

Welfare States and Public Opinion comprises an informed inquiry into three fields of social policy health policy, family policy, and unemployment benefits and social assistance. Though the analyses stem from research spanning fifteen countries across Europe, the conclusions can be applied to social policy problems in nations worldwide. Combining a detailed analysis of the institutional structure of social policy with the study of public attitudes toward healthcare, family policy, and benefits for the unemployed and poor, this book represents a new stream in public opinion research. The authors demonstrate that the institutional designs of social policies have a great impact on inequalities among social groups, and provide best practices for gaining public support for social policy reform. The wealth of information found in this comprehensive study will be of interest not only to scholars and students of sociology, political science, social policy, public policy and law, but to health and social policymakers the world over. Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Perceptions of Welfare State Institutions: Theories and Concepts 3. Healthcare Our Greatest Good? 4. Family Policy One for All? 5. Public Support for Unemployment Benefits and Social Assistance Schemes Money for Nothing or Help in Dire Straits? 6. Conclusion: Comparing Public Attitudes in Three Fields of Social Policy Bibliography Index

This book presents a collection of essays on institutional theory written by the German sociologist and Weber-expert M. Rainer Lepsius. Based on Weber's work, the author develops concepts of institutional theory, which he subsequently applies to topics such as National Socialism, democratization processes, German unification, and the institutionalization of the European Union. By showing how charismatic leadership can under certain circumstances threaten democratic structures and curtail individual freedoms, and by analyzing the structural and cultural conditions under which people develop trust in political and social structures and ultimately come to support and comply with them, the author provides a sound analytical understanding of the development of democratic institutions and a democratic political culture. This collection of essays was edited, translated and commented on by Claus Wendt.

Healthcare is one of modern society's most crucial arenas - costly, important and controversial. This comprehensive two-volume collection brings together more than fifty scholarly articles on both healthcare systems in general and health reform in particular. The editors have carefully selected papers by leading academics which will enhance our understanding of the central feature of social and political life. The articles are distinguished by their clear prose and wide disciplinary range. The volumes are an essential reference resource for students, and practitioners interested in this topical field.

This book presents a collection of essays on institutional theory written by the German sociologist and Weber-expert M. Rainer Lepsius. Based on Weber's work, the author develops concepts of institutional theory, which he subsequently applies to topics such as National Socialism, democratization processes, German unification, and the institutionalization of the European Union. By showing how charismatic leadership can under certain circumstances threaten democratic structures and curtail individual freedoms, and by analyzing the structural and cultural conditions under which people develop trust in political and social structures and ultimately come to support and comply with them, the author provides a sound analytical understanding of the development of democratic institutions and a democratic political culture. This collection of essays was edited, translated and commented on by Claus Wendt.

Gesundheitssysteme sind einem fortlaufenden Wandel unterworfen. Wahrend bei einer Evaluation des eigenen Systems haufig die Kostenproblematik den Blick auf innovative Reformideen verstellt, kann die vergleichende Beobachtung anderer Lander wichtige Anregungen fur Strukturreformen geben. Der Vergleich der Gesundheitssysteme von Deutschland, Osterreich, Grossbritannien und Danemark er-folgt anhand der Dimensionen Deckungsgrad', Finanzierung', Ausgaben', Leistungen' und Organisation und Steuerung der Gesundheitsversorgung'. Ein Ergebnis der Analyse ist, dass nicht Leistungsausgrenzungen oder Kostenbeteiligungen zu einer wirksamen Kostenkontrolle beitragen, sondern ein hoher Kooperationsgrad zwischen den Leistungserbringern sowie eine Steuerung der Gesundheitsversorgung mit Hilfe des Hausarztprinzips. Daruber hinaus wird entlang institutionentheoretischer Ansatze argumentiert, dass hohe Vertrauens- bzw. Zufriedenheitswerte im Bereich der Gesundheitsversorgung nicht primar mit uberdurchschnittlichen Gesundheitsausgaben, einer hohen Leistungsdichte oder besonders liberalen Wahloptionen zusammenhangen, sondern vielmehr mit einer lokalen Organisationsstruktur, der dadurch gewahrleisteten Transparenz des Leistungsangebots und umfassenden Partizipationschancen fur Patientinnen und Patienten."