RECONCILING WORK AND FAMILY CAREGIVING- PROJECT 2002 - 2005

WHO IS A WORKING FAMILY CAREGIVER?

Family caregiver is a person who takes care of the day-to-day life of their chronically ill, disabled or elderly relative or friend. For instance, parents of disabled children and men or women caring for their spouses or elderly parents, are family caregivers. Usually the family caregiver and the care recipient live in the same household. There are also many “remote” caregivers who provide care for their relatives or friends by e.g. daily phone calls, visiting them in the evenings or on week-ends etc.

It is estimated that there are about 300 000 (of which approximately 40 000 men) family caregivers in Finland, many of whom are actively engaged in paid work. Gainful employment is the right of everybody, including family caregivers. For many it is also a financial necessity. Many caregivers argue that working outside home helps them cope and adds to their feeling of independence. Still, numerous practical problems both in workplace and at home cause feelings of inadequacy.

WHAT ENABLES PAID EMPLOYMENT?

• Good, sufficient and easily accessible services provided by the public social and healthcare sector, organizations or private sector
• Care management to ensure that appropriate care and services are found
• Employer’s positive attitude regarding special arrangements caused by family caregiving responsibilities such as flexible working hours, possibility to get unpaid leave from work and telecommuting
• Understanding attitude of fellow workers and society at large toward reconciling work and family caregiving

For each family, individually tailored support measures are needed to secure a well-balanced everyday life.

PROJECT GOALS

The project Reconciling Work and Family Caregiving (2002-2005) by the Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends addresses issues relating to family caregivers who need to reconcile work with such care. It has goals at both national and local levels.

NATIONAL LEVEL

• Intensify supervision of the interests of working caregivers
• Influence legislation and collective labour contracts in cooperation with i.a. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Labour, employers’ and employee’s organizations
• Promote public awareness of the problems of reconciling work and family caregiving
• Enhance family caregiver-friendly employment policies and create positive attitudes
• Collect and disseminate information about reconciling work and family caregiving
• Disseminate information about good supportive practices for working family care givers

LOCAL LEVEL

• Intensify supervision of interests at local level
• Influence attitudes and awareness of local employers, employees, municipalities etc.
• Introduce and increase positive practices at the workplaces
• Initiate pilot projects at the workplaces to help create good practises in support of family caregivers

COOPERATING PARTNERS

In addition to other local agencies, the following local associations of the Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends are involved in regional development work:

Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in the Metropolitan Helsinki Area, Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in Perhonjokilaakso, Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in Lakeus region, Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in Kainuu region, Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in Turku region, Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in Kokkola region, Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in Tampere region, Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends in Länsi-Pohja region.

NATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP OF THE PROJECT

The national support group consists of the following organizations:

Federation of Special Service and Clerical Employees ERTO, Folkhälsan, Finnish Association of People with Mobility Disability, Trade Union for the Municipal Sector KTV, National Research and Development Centre, Finnish Red Cross, Ministry of Labour, ELIAS-project of the Work Efficiency Institute, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends.

Omaishoitajat ja Läheiset -Liitto ry Närståendevårdare och Vänner -Förbundet rf Association of Care Giving Relatives and Friends Hämeentie 105 A 00550 Helsinki, FINLAND p. +358 9 686 6860, fax +358 9 686 68655 www.omaishoitajat.com