El apoyo informal a las personas mayores en España y la protección social a la dependencia. Del familismo a los derechos de ciudadanía

The present article highlights the most important aspects of the past, present and future of informal support to the elderly. The article has three aims. The first is to analyze the development of research into informal support in Spain since its beginnings. The second aim is to disseminate important information on informal support obtained in 2004 and to compare this information with that obtained in 1994 in order to verify the existence of possible changes. Included in the information for comparison are the profiles of caregivers and carereceivers, the help provided to caregivers, and the attitudes and opinions of informal caregivers. Finally, the third aim is to determine which measures should be carried out in the future to improve the care and social protection of the elderly, taking into account the changes that, with the passage of time, are produced in all levels of society.