One ten people look after chronically ill or disabled relatives

One in ten 15 to 65-year-olds look after chronically ill or disabled relatives. In most cases, the care is provided to one or both parents. Women in the age category 45-55 more often provide care than men and young people. One in ten provide care for more than twelve hours a week.

Twelve percent of women look after close relatives

Last year, 926 thousand persons aged 15-65 looked after chronically ill or disabled relatives. More than 10 percent of 15 to 65-year-olds, i.e. 12 percent of women and 9 percent of men aged 15-65 looked after chronically ill or disabled relatives. In most cases, the care recipient is one of the parents: more than 8 percent of women and nearly 6 percent of men provide care to one of their parents. Approximately as many men as women provide care to children or partners.

Informal care provided to chronically ill or disabled relatives, 15 to 65-year-olds, 2009

45 to 55-year-olds most often take care of one of the parents

Older people more often look after their partners. Until the age of 55, people often provide care to a parent, because 45 to 55-year-olds most often have parents in need of care. Nearly 11 percent of them look after one of their parents versus only 3 percent of 15 to 25-year-olds. People providing care to children are most often aged between 35 and 55.

Informal care provided to chronically ill or disabled relatives by age, 15 to 65-year-olds, 2009

Majority provides care less than twelve hours a week

Nearly one third of providers of informal care spend less than 4 hours a week on caring for ill relatives. Also one third spend 4 to 12 hours a week, 19 percent spend 12 to 21 hours a week on caring for others and 19 percent spend 21 hours a week or more.

Number of hours involved in taking care of chronically ill or disabled relatives, 15 to 65-year-olds, 2009

Jannes de Vries and Francis van der Mooren