Alzheimer Switzerland calls for clear rules for family caregivers
Published: Tuesday, Jul 23rd 2024, 08:20
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The Alzheimer Switzerland association has called for standardized rules throughout Switzerland for the employment of Spitex caregivers. According to a position paper published by the association on Tuesday, it is imperative that those without specialist training receive basic training.
Hiring relatives from a Spitex organization to care for people with dementia could be a good solution for those affected in individual cases, it said. However, they would have to receive a binding employment contract and appropriate remuneration. However, there should still be no right to such employment for relatives.
Some Spitex organizations engage in "aggressive" marketing for the remuneration model, while others were founded exclusively with this business model in mind, wrote Alzheimer Switzerland. "The handling is inconsistent and non-transparent."
In the paper, the Alzheimer's Association calls for clear framework conditions at a political level so that relief options can be financed and family caregivers who are at a disadvantage due to their caring responsibilities can be compensated.
According to a 2019 study by the organization on dementia costs, Alzheimer's and other dementias in Switzerland cause total costs of CHF 11 billion annually. According to the study, around half of this is borne by relatives through their unpaid care and nursing work.
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