COFACE Families Europe members UNAF, UNAPEI and APF France handicap involved in a joint call are urging candidates in France’s 2027 presidential election to make concrete commitments to support family carers and the people they care for.
The joint statement highlights the essential role played by family carers in supporting the autonomy, social connections and quality of life of people who need assistance. However, this contribution often comes at a personal cost, including exhaustion, isolation, difficulties at work, financial insecurity and a lack of opportunities for respite.
The organisations behind the call warn that carers continue to face fragmented rights, complex administrative procedures and unequal access to support. They argue that caring responsibilities should not replace the collective responsibility to ensure that people in vulnerable situations receive appropriate support.
Greater recognition and stronger rights for family carers
The organisations are calling for family carers to be better recognised by public institutions and for their rights to be easier to access. Rather than introducing a formal status that could risk assigning people to a caring role they have not freely chosen, they propose two measures:
– A dedicated chapter on family carers in France’s Social Action and Families Code, including a single definition that reflects the diversity of caring situations.
– Formal recognition of caring responsibilities, accessible through Ameli, France’s health insurance platform, to help carers demonstrate their situation to public administrations, employers and social organisations.
The organisations also highlight the financial consequences of caring for a relative. Caring responsibilities can lead people to reduce their working hours or interrupt their careers, with lasting effects on their economic security.
To address this, they call for paid leave for carers to be extended to three years and for caring responsibilities to be better taken into account when calculating pension entitlements.
Making respite care accessible
Access to respite remains another major concern. Although carers need opportunities to rest and take a break from their responsibilities, existing provision is insufficient, difficult to access and unevenly distributed across France.
The organisations are therefore proposing a flat-rate respite allowance that would cover 15 days of respite per year, without additional costs for carers or complicated administrative procedures. They also call for a more diverse range of respite services that is accessible across the country and funded according to actual needs.
Supporting family carers also means ensuring that the people they care for have access to appropriate, high-quality and local support services. This is essential to preserve freedom of choice for both carers and the people receiving care.
Calling on presidential candidates to act
Against the backdrop of an ageing population, the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses and growing support needs, the organisations want the situation of family carers to become a national priority.
They are calling on all candidates in France’s 2027 presidential election to include specific, funded and measurable commitments in their programmes. Their aim is to ensure that family carers receive the recognition and support they need to continue caring for their relatives without compromising their own wellbeing and financial security.
Read the full joint call (in french) and discover the proposals: Presidential election 2027: Family carers are doing their part, public authorities must do theirs.
