Caring for relatives as an answer to the care crisis

Result

Caring for relatives has become considerably more important in recent years. Within five years, the proportion of Germans who say they care for relatives regularly (at least once a week) has doubled from seven to 14 per cent. The type of care provided ranges from medical care, shopping, transport and other everyday tasks to support with individual challenges.

Reasons

There are several factors that influence the increase in caring for relatives, including

• Demographic changes: In the last five years alone, the proportion of over 80-year-olds in Germany has increased by around 700,000. As the number of older people increases, so does the need for care within families.
• Nursing crisis and shortage of skilled workers: In Germany, as in many other countries, there is an acute shortage of qualified carers. This shortage of carers means that families are often unable to find adequate professional care for their relatives and therefore (have to) take care of them themselves.
• Lack of retirement/nursing home places: The average waiting time for a place in a care home is currently 1.5 years. However, many relatives are dependent on immediate support.
• Costs: Care in a nursing home or by outpatient care services can be expensive. Many families cannot afford these costs and take on the tasks themselves.
• Personal wish: Many guarantors would like to support their relatives in the familiar surroundings of their own home or fulfil their wish to remain living at home.

Forecast

The growing number of family carers illustrates their increasing necessity and at the same time emphasises the growing importance of social networks. Without the support of others, the lives of many German citizens will be more difficult and challenging in the future. Childlessness and social marginalisation will increase the importance of elective kinship. In future, it will not only be relatives who provide help, but increasingly also friends, acquaintances, neighbours and colleagues. The principle of „I'll help you so that I can be helped later“ will therefore lead to a drive for more solidarity and community.