Growing Demand for Long-Term Care Financing Models in Ghana

The demand for long-term care (LTC) in Ghana is increasing as the population ages, presenting challenges in sustainable care financing. Without a formal LTC system, care is largely managed by informal family caregivers who handle both caregiving and financial responsibilities. A recent study involving 1,116 dual-role caregivers across three Ghanaian regions assessed preferences for various financing models, analyzing the effects of caregiving intensity, personal beliefs, and caregiver-care receiver relationships.

The study examined options, including insurance-based models and tax-financed solutions, revealing that high-intensity personal care raised support for insurance-based financing by approximately 3.6 percentage points. Conversely, greater emotional support provision increased preference for tax-based models by about 7.8 percentage points.

In Ghana, LTC is predominantly family-financed, though experiences vary based on caregivers' socioeconomic status, relationship with the care recipient, and beliefs about family responsibility. Caregivers with high personal care demands or declining health favored insurance models, while those providing household support leaned toward family-based financing, reflecting cultural norms and resource availability.

Demographic factors like age and marital status also influenced preferences. Older caregivers showed less inclination towards insurance, possibly due to skepticism or distrust, whereas higher education and income levels correlated with greater openness to formal insurance structures. The study recommends mixed financing models, combining contributory insurance schemes with public support within the national health insurance framework, aligning with Ghana's cultural expectations while offering formal relief.

These findings prompt Ghana's policymakers to explore pilot insurance schemes and integrate caregiver perspectives, ensuring culturally sensitive and effective financing solutions. While primarily focused on Ghana, this study contributes to the global discourse on LTC financing in similar socio-economic environments.