Requiring Increased Care Time for Family Members at Home
Looking after loved ones comes with its fair share of stress, but it seems like the pressure has intensified in recent times. On top of that, caretakers are having to shell out more money and spend less time on their jobs. A study conducted by Forsa and commissioned by the Scientific Institute of the AOK (Wido) revealed these findings, as reported by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND).
The study showed that people who are caretakers for their relatives at home are facing mounting demands in terms of time and money. They are devoting an average of 49 hours a week to tasks like feeding, bathing, and administering medication for their family members. This heightened commitment, however, has had consequences for their professional lives. The report also pointed out that the financial burden has expanded, with personal contributions hiking from 200 euros to 290 euros a month.
The increased burden didn't help when it came to career prospects. Only 46% of primary caregivers were working full-time, while 37% were working part-time. Shockingly, 18% of the respondents were unemployed. Among those who worked part-time, more than half had reduced their working hours to tend to their family's needs. For people not working, 28% chose to give up their jobs due to care responsibilities.
Chairwoman of AOK, Carola Reimann, expressed her concerns over the situation, saying, "It's worrying that part of the family caregivers are spending an average of 49 hours a week on care duties at home, and that home care is leading to around one out of four people reducing or giving up their jobs entirely." She warned that if these primary caregivers, predominantly women, cut back their working hours or quit their jobs, it could lead to financial hardships for the next generation of carers. Reimann called for a fresh legal framework to make it possible for people to balance caregiving with their professional commitments.
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- Further international studies are needed to shed light on the global implications of these rising costs for care and their impact on women's gainful employment.
- The AOK, recognizing the challenges faced by caretakers, has supported various studies aimed at understanding the financial burden and its consequences on women's employment opportunities.
- Despite the significant financial costs for care and reduced employment opportunities, women continue to play a critical role in providing care at home, contributing to a need for international collaboration and policies to address these challenges.
Source: www.ntv.de
