Informal carer’s leave

A substitute informal carer is a trustworthy loved one of your choice – a relative, friend, neighbour – who knows the care recipient. The requirements for the substitute informal carer to act as a substitute informal carer are the same as for an informal carer. The substitute informal carer must be at least eighteen and be able to care for the care recipient. You will instruct the substitute informal carer on their tasks.

Substitute informal care is a good option when  

• the care recipient is most comfortable at home.
• you want to organise the care with the help of people close to you.
• you want to pick the carer yourself.
• you want to agree flexibly on the time and length of the care.

The wellbeing services county concludes a commission agreement with the substitute informal carer and pays a care fee according to the actual care days. The care fee in 2026 is EUR 102.02 per day (in 2025: EUR 97.55 per day) and it is taxable income. The substitute informal carer uses the Oima service to report the actual care days to the wellbeing services county for the payment of the fee.

The client is charged a client fee of EUR 13.70 per day in 2026 (EUR 12.80 per day in 2025) based on the actual care days.

With a service voucher, you can have a carer from the service providers approved by the wellbeing services county come to your home. The wellbeing services county grants the service voucher. Your task will be to select a service provider and familiarise the carer with their tasks.

The service voucher is a good option when  

• the care recipient is most comfortable at home.
• you want to pick the service provider yourself.
• you want the same familiar carers to look after your loved one during your leave.
• you want to agree flexibly on the time and length of the care.   

Value of the service voucher as informal carer’s leave

• For one statutory day of leave, in 2025, you will receive a service voucher valued at EUR 167, and in 2026, the service voucher is EUR 180.47.
• Service providers’ hourly prices vary depending on the time of the day and the day of the week.

No client fee is charged for using the service voucher.

Compare service providers at www.parastapalvelua.fi (in Finnish)(external link)

Rehabilitative daytime activities for older people are organised at several locations of the wellbeing services county. At daytime activities, your loved one can engage in meaningful activities and have a change of pace while you take your leave.

• Daytime activities are extensive group activities that maintain functional capacity.
• The day includes a meal, transportation is possible.
• Participants go to daytime activities once a week
• One day in rehabilitative daytime activity spends 0.5 days of informal carer’s leave

Daytime activities are a good option when

• your loved one would like a change of pace in their life and wants to participate in daytime activities
• your loved one is able to function in a group
• your loved one can cope in daytime activities with occasional assistance
• you would like the opportunity to have a moment to yourself every week

A client fee is charged for daytime activities during the informal carer’s leave according to the actual days spent in daytime activities (in 2025: EUR 6.40 per day and in 2026: EUR 6.85 per day).

Family care is a flexible and individualised way of organising informal carer’s leave. The need for leave could for example be a few hours a month or overnight. Family care is a service arranged either at your home, in which case the family carer comes to your home during the leave, or at a family home, in which case your loved one can go to the family carer’s home for the duration of the leave. The family carer is always the same familiar person. Family carers are private persons who have attended coaching and who take care of your loved one like a family member. You will familiarise the family carer with the care of your loved one.

Family care as a service at your home is a good option when

• the care recipient is most comfortable at home.
• you want the same familiar family carer to look after your loved one during your leave.
• you want to agree flexibly on the time and length of the care.
• your loved one’s need for assistance is not demanding and is focused on medical procedures

Family care at a family home is a good option when

• your loved one does not need regular night-time assistance
• your loved one’s need for assistance is not demanding and is focused on medical procedures
• you want the same familiar carer to take care of your loved one during your leave in a home-like environment
• you want to agree flexibly on the time and length of the care

Family care always starts with a trial period to assess whether it is a suitable option. Contact your informal care client manager for more information about family homes and organising family care. Part-day family care (max. 8 hours) spends 0.5 days of informal carer’s leave per day. For longer periods, family care spends whole days of leave.

A client fee is charged for family care during the informal carer’s leave according to the duration of the care (in 2025: EUR per 12.80 day for full days or EUR 6.40 per day for partial days and in 2026: EUR 13.70 per full day or EUR 6.85 per partial day)

Care provided in a nursing home is round-the-clock care and support. Care periods are organised in several nursing homes around the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County. You can book periods for up to six months in advance. Before the start of a period, you will have to contact the nursing home and share all the important information related to the care of your loved one.

Short-term care in a nursing home is a particularly good option when:

• your loved one needs a high amount of care and continuous round-the-clock supervision and care.
• you need a longer rest period, such as several days’ leave
• other ways of organising leave days are not suitable in your situation
• you want to reserve the periods in advance for a longer span of time

A client fee is charged for a care period in a nursing home during the informal carer’s leave (in 2025: EUR 12.80 per day and in 2026: EUR 13.70 per day)