FORWORD 1 -- ABSTRACT 2 -- SYNTHESIS 4 -- 1. BACKGROUND 6 -- 2. OBJECTIVES, SCOPE AND METHODS 7 -- 2.1. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE 7 -- 2.2. METHODS . 7 -- 3. RESULTS OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: THE COMPLEX ENVIROMENT OF SUPPORT POLICIES FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS . 8 -- 3.1. GENERAL CONTEXT IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES 8 -- 3.2. ASSESSING THE SUPPORT MEASURES TO AVOID LOSS OF INCOME, OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OR OF EMPLOYMENT 9 -- 3.2.1. Financial compensation for informal care 9 -- 3.2.2. Social security benefits 10 -- 3.2.3. Impact of financial compensation for informal caregivers 11 -- 3.2.4. Leave arrangements and flexible working arrangements 12 -- 3.3. ASSESSING RESPITE CARE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT 15 -- 3.3.1. Use and uptake of respite care and psychosocial support 15 -- 3.3.2. The impact of support interventions on informal caregivers 15 -- 3.3.3. The barriers limiting the use of support intervention for informal caregivers . 15 -- 4. CAREGIVER NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES IN BELGIUM . 16 -- 4.1. INFORMATION NEEDS OF INFORMAL CAREGIVERS 16 -- 4.2. NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS REGARDING PROFESSIONAL HELP AND RESPITE CARE . 16 -- 4.3. NEEDS FOR RECOGNITION 16 -- 5. RESULTS OF THE CASE STUDIES 17 -- 5.1. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY SAMPLE 17 -- 5.1.1. The reasons to care 17 -- 5.1.2. What informal caregivers do 18 -- 5.2. ARE INFORMAL CAREGIVERS AWARE OF THE EXISTING SUPPORT MEASURES? . 18 -- 5.2.1. What do they know? 18 -- 5.2.2. Who provides information? 18 -- 5.3. DO INFORMAL CAREGIVERS BENEFIT FROM EXISTING SUPPORT MEASURES AND HOW? . 19 -- 5.3.1. Financial compensation, social contributions and leave policies 19 -- 5.3.2. Measures on respite care and psychosocial support . 20 -- 5.3.3. The importance of support measures for the dependent older person 20 -- 5.4. WHAT IMPACT/EFFECT DO THESE SUPPORT MEASURES HAVE ON THE CONTINUITY OF CARE FOR THE DEPENDENT OLDER PERSON AND ON THE RISK FOR INSTITUTIONALIZATION? 21 -- 5.4.1. Continuity of care 21 -- 5.4.2. Institutionalization 21 -- 6. DISCUSSION 22 -- 6.1. LESSONS FROM THE MACRO-INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT ON SUPPORT FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS . 22 -- 6.2. ARE INFORMAL CAREGIVERS AWARE OF THE EXISTING SUPPORT MEASURES? . 22 -- 6.3. DO INFORMAL CAREGIVERS BENEFIT FROM EXISTING SUPPORT MEASURES AND HOW? . 23 -- 6.3.1. Financial compensation, social contributions and leave policies 23 -- 6.3.2. Respite care and psychosocial support . 24 -- 6.4. WHAT IMPACT/EFFECT DO THESE SUPPORT MEASURES HAVE ON THE CONTINUITY OF CARE AND ON THE RISK FOR INSTITUTIONALIZATION? 24 -- 7. CONCLUSION 25 -- RECOMMENDATIONS 28 -- REFERENCES 30