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Caring relatives: The invisible heroes of the Berlin care world!
On October 6, 2025, Berlin will honor the work of caring relatives who strengthen the care system with events.
Caring relatives: The invisible heroes of the Berlin care world!
October 6th marked the European Day of Family Carers, which was launched in 2020 to honor the valuable work of these often silent helpers. In Germany, an estimated 280,000 people take care of relatives, friends or neighbors. Over 80 percent of care in Europe is provided by caring relatives, a considerable proportion that is also of utmost importance for the German care system. Dr. Ina Czyborra, Senator for Science, Health and Care, highlights the central role of these people, who often represent the “backbone of European care systems”, as the organization Eurocarers also states.
A look at the numbers shows that four out of five people in need of care in Germany are cared for at home. The events for the European Day of Caring Relatives included, among other things, a celebration in front of the Brandenburg Gate, a rally under the motto “Care needs support” with live music and the 1st Berlin Home Care Forum in Lichtenberg. The latter addressed the challenges experienced by people who care for relatives outside of Berlin.
Importance and challenges of informal care
Informal care has enormous economic and social importance in Germany. For many it is a form of solidarity and family cohesion. The “We Care” association suggests creating a flat-rate care budget in order to reduce the financial burden caused by high care costs. Such initiatives are particularly important as Germany is one of the fastest aging countries in Europe and relies heavily on unpaid care.
Eurocarers' proposals include, among other things, the official recognition of carers and a clear definition of their rights. In the future, caring relatives should also be included in decision-making processes in order to better take their needs and challenges into account. It also emphasizes the need to provide more resources and training to reduce burdens.
Measures to relieve the burden on caring relatives
In order to ease the double burden of professional and nursing tasks, flexibility in labor law is necessary. These include, among other things, paid leave for carers, flexible working hours and part-time options. In cases where there are no day care places, the entitlement should alternatively apply to outpatient services or for independent use.
Various resources are available for further information on contact points and volunteering in care, including websites such as those of the German Center for Aging Issues as well as public initiatives. The importance of carers cannot be neglected, and sustainable reforms are urgently needed to fulfill this important social task.
Overall, it is extremely important to recognize the challenges family caregivers face and develop solutions. This is the only way to ensure social recognition and support for their valuable work.