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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- The international community needs to conduct more studies to understand the impact of increased care costs on caretakers, as these financial burdens can significantly affect women's participation in gainful employment.
- The AOK-commissioned study revealed that the costs for care at home have increased substantially, leading to a decrease in the number of women in gainful employment due to reduced working hours or job loss.
- In light of the challenges faced by women in gainful employment due to care responsibilities, there's a pressing need for international studies to propose effective policies that will reduce care costs and facilitate a better balance between family commitments and work.
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