Allocare

Allocare is a caregiving concept that describes distributing or allocating care tasks among a network of actors, including family members, friends, volunteers, and professional service providers, to meet the needs of dependents. It emphasizes planning and coordination to balance responsibilities, costs, and outcomes rather than relying on a single caregiver. In practice, allocare involves mapping care needs to available resources, tailoring interventions to the individual’s preferences, and using formal services to complement informal care.

Allocare often encompasses elder care, disability support, and child care. It relies on case management, flexible scheduling, and technology-enabled coordination to match tasks such as daily living support, medical needs, transportation, and respite care with suitable caregivers. The approach can improve care quality and reduce caregiver burnout by distributing tasks more evenly and providing access to paid services when needed.

Critical considerations include equity of access, data privacy, funding models, workforce capacity, and governance structures to ensure quality and safety. Critics argue that allocare risks fragmenting care or creating inconsistent standards across providers. Proponents counter that, with clear coordination and appropriate safeguards, allocare can create more resilient care networks and better align resources with individual needs.

Historically, allocare has emerged from broader movements toward integrated or community-based care, aging-in-place policies, and the shift from institution-based to home-based services. It is discussed in policy papers and care-planning frameworks as a way to optimize scarce caregiving resources in aging societies.