What Are Family Carers Worth to Switzerland?
Informal carers are indispensable partners in the care system: Toward a fair deal for carers.
On «European Carers Day», October 6, 2024, we are posing a critical question: «What is the value of family caregiving to Switzerland?» Their estimated contribution amounts to CHF 3.7 billion annually—a service often provided not by choice, but due to a lack of alternatives. Despite the immense burden, recognition from the municipal, social, and healthcare sectors remains inadequate. How much longer will society expect family carers to shoulder the high opportunity costs of their care work?
While there are already some instruments in place, such as disability compensation, carers allowances, or respite financing, these measures are far from sufficient to support the long-term care of sick, elderly, or disabled individuals.
The Alternatives: Care Home or Employment With Home Care Organisation
For families with limited financial resources, the choices are often reduced to two: placing their loved one in a care home or seeking employment through a home care organization. However, the critical question we must all consider is: what does a "fair deal" look like for these family carers, who frequently work around the clock and provide vital support?
A Fair Deal for Family Carers
Currently, home care organizations in Switzerland receive a substantial amount, ranging in the upper tens to lower hundreds of millions of francs from health insurer, to employ family caregivers. Some cantons also offer caregiving allowances as a form of recognition—amounting to several tens of millions of francs annually. Another form of support is the disability compensation, which can be used flexibly. Thanks to these measures, several thousand family carers are likely receiving financial compensation. These are rough estimates; precise figures are currently unavailable.
A Combination of Employment and Allowances as a Solution?
In some regional authorities, discussions are ongoing about whether a combination of employment, caregiving allowances, and disability compensation could be possible. This solution could secure an average monthly income of around CHF 2,700 to 3,500 for family carers who are financially constrained, have had to give up their jobs, and are constantly on duty. For example, home care organisation pays between CHF 35-45 per hour for 45 hours of basic care, totaling CHF 1,800, plus CHF 600-900 in caregiving allowance and around CHF 600 in medium-level disability compensation. However, the question remains: Is this really fair, considering the average monthly wage in the healthcare and social sectors ranges between CHF 6,143 and 6,552? According to BFS, median for non-executive employees, without accounting for age, qualifications, education, or region
Quick Access to Financial Support
A crucial issue is the rapid availability of support. After medical emergencies such as a hip fracture or stroke, caregiving often needs to be arranged immediately. Long waiting times and complex application processes with various agencies are unbearable for family carers in such emergencies. Immediate, no-bureaucracy financial assistance, as already offered by some municipalities, is essential here.
The Cost to Society
Studies suggest that by 2035, over 70,000 family caregivers could be compensated through comprehensive employment with home care organizations and additional caregiving allowances. The estimated cost to society would amount to approximately CHF 1.8 billion. Source: Caregiving Allowances and Respite Services for Family Caregivers: A Nationwide Inventory on Behalf of the Federal Office of Public Health (p. 57).
The Majority Are Employed
While several thousand family carers currently receive financial support, according to the BAG (Federal Office of Public Health) and BFS, between 8% and 17% of Switzerland's nine million residents provide unpaid, informal care or depend on it. This large group urgently requires assistance to better balance employment with caregiving responsibilities. To address this need, investments in digital coordination systems are crucial. These systems would allow employed family carers to more easily access support services, simplify administrative tasks, and improve the coordination of care. One potential financing approach would be to invest contributions from the OECD minimum tax funds into an IT operating company.
Advocacy for Family Carers
Swiss Carers calls for a comprehensive societal debate on the value we place on family carers. This system-critical group deserves stronger support, a clear voice, and the opportunity to actively and constructively participate in shaping legislation, ensuring that their concerns don’t get lost among competing interests.
Care-Promille
As a carer-run membership organization, we advocate for the introduction of a "Care-Promille." This levy could be applied to contributions from home care employment and caregiving allowances, providing essential funding for an advocacy body focused on maintaining quality standards. Much like health insurance premiums for health promotion or old age contributions for senior organizations, this initiative would empower family carers and ensure their vital role is recognized and supported.
Innovative Pilot Projects
Swiss Carers is ready to take on the role of an advocacy organization for family carers, representing their interests and improving the framework for caregiving sustainably. This initiative will build on the insights from innovative pilot projects that are already offering valuable approaches for better support and relief for family carers. www.weplus.care
Further Information
- Calculator: Swiss Carers is launching the We+Care Calculator, a tool that allows family caregivers to anonymously check the availability of financial support in their municipality across Switzerland. The calculator is available free of charge until October 30, the Swiss Day of Family Carers. www.carers.ch
- Employment: Swiss Carers offers helpful tips, checklists, and a search tool on a new website to support family caregivers in finding fair employment conditions with home care organizations. The goal is to secure a “fair deal” for these caregivers. https://www.weplus.care/en-ch/provider
- Background Information: Blog posts with references and summaries of the studies mentioned, as well as up-to-date numbers and developments, provide politicians with comprehensive decision-making support. https://blog.swisscarers.weplus.care/de
About Swiss Carers: Swiss Carers is an expert organization advocating for the rights and needs of family carers in Switzerland. As a member of Eurocarers, we support the joint campaign to promote the interests of carers within a European framework. As a nonprofit association, we offer digital tools that are available to caregivers free of charge. These innovative self-management tools are funded through donations, partnerships with companies, and service agreements with public institutions in the municipal, social, and healthcare sectors. This is done in recognition of the indispensable contributions that family carers make. www.swisscarers.org
Disclaimer: The political views expressed in this campaign are those of individual association members and family carers. They do not reflect the positions of Swiss Carers' legal members and partner organizations.
