Follow us

Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
11 Oct, 2021

National awareness-raising day in France to support the 11 million family carers in the country

family carers

In the absence of international mobilisation on the subject, France created its national family carers’ day in 2010, at the initiative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Every year since then, on October 6, numerous French organisations launch awareness-raising campaigns to put a necessary spotlight on the many challenges faced by family carers who provide daily support to people around them for health or disability reasons

Read more below about the work and campaign of COFACE French members during the National Family Carers Day in 2021.

APF – Carers & disability: findings, analysis, proposals and solutions

With the National Carers’ Day and the dedicated dossier published by APF France Handicap aims to highlight the daily lives of the 11 million family carers in France. Between accompanying the person being cared for, care and administrative tasks, their already busy days have been disrupted by the health crisis: if the confinement has been particularly difficult for people with disabilities, it has also been difficult for carers who have found themselves without a solution to accompany their loved one and have been overwhelmed by the number of care activities.

The consequences: increased isolation and an impact on their physical and mental health. Young carers have not been spared and have suffered, like adults, from stress and overwork. However, these young carers, who represent 500,000 people in France, are still not visible enough and too often forgotten.

For years, APF has been demanding that public policies fully take into account the needs of carers and act for the recognition of their role, so that family solidarity does not replace national solidarity, but also for the free choice to help and to be helped.

These demands are accompanied by a series of proposals, formulated in their report “Carers, family carers & disability: findings, analyses, proposals, and solutions”.

In parallel, APF is increasing the number of local and national initiatives dedicated to family carers. Training and awareness-raising sessions with Repairs Aidants, a discussion group in Charente-Maritime, art therapy and socio-aesthetics afternoons in Corrèze, adapted holiday stays with APF Evasion France handicap to support and offer time off solutions to family caregivers.

Read full report in French here

 

UNAPEI – An urgent call for Family carers to have  #TheRightToBeJustParent

At the beginning of October 2021, several associations in the medico-social sector – including Unapei – are having to manage the unmanageable in the face of mass resignations and a shortage of professionals. This unprecedented situation is drastically increasing the difficulties of supporting people with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities and intellectual disabilities. The glaring lack of medical and social professionals and home help directly impacts the daily life of family carers who have to make up for the lack of support.

Because the lack of support continues and is worsening in France, particularly since the signing of the Ségur de la Santé, Unapei took advantage of the National Day of Family Carers to point out that the quality of life of carers depends directly on personalised, adapted, coordinated and quality support for their relative with an intellectual and cognitive disability. Without professionals, the entire medical and social support system is undermined.

Family carers are collateral victims of the shortage of medical and social professionals.

The #TheRightToBeJustParent campaign launched by UNAPEI in 2020 is, therefore, more relevant than ever. It reminds us that carers are not just parents. They have many tasks and responsibilities, and all too often experience a real obstacle course at every stage of their lives in order to assert their rights: going to school, taking part in a sporting activity, finding a job, living at home with the necessary support.

Read UNAPEI’s full Press Release in French here.

 

—————————————————————-

Photo:  ©Phynart Studio via Canva.com

Related Posts

NewsOpinions
Family members Playing Video Games on sofa
OPINION – Making video games fun for families: the crucial role of family settings awareness

OPINION – Making video games fun for families: the crucial role of family settings awareness

53% of Europe’s population between the ages of 6 and 64 plays video games. And, whilst the average age of a player is 32, many players are children. Europe’s video game companies are dedicated to creating games for everyone to enjoy and, also, importantly, to provide safe, responsible environments for those games to be enjoyed in.

Read More

News
COFACE Member FLW’s Housing Loans: Support for Retired Parents 

COFACE Member FLW’s Housing Loans: Support for Retired Parents 

COFACE member, Fonds du Logement Wallonie (FLW) provides housing loans to large families for the creation of special accommodation for one or more parents aged 60 or over. Since 2022, this option has been available to all households (with or without children) meeting certain income conditions: total taxable income for the penultimate year, i.e. 2022 for an application submitted in 2024, may not exceed EUR 76,000, plus EUR 5,000 per dependent child. 

Read More

News
DigiGen Book: Understanding the everyday digital lives of children and young people

DigiGen Book: Understanding the everyday digital lives of children and young people

After years of meticulous research and analysis, the culmination of the DigiGen project has resulted in the release of the first DigiGen book. This publication represents a wealth of knowledge distilled from the insights gathered throughout the project's duration. DigiGen particularly responded to the need for a focus on the everyday lives of children and young people from their perspec­tive and not solely from the perspective of adults around them. 

Read More