The informal carer survey provided valuable information on the support and information needs of informal carers
The client survey on informal care support was prepared as part of the Informal Carer’s Pathway supporting the informal carers of older people (Omaishoitajan polulta tukea ikääntyneiden omaishoitajille) project. The survey is the first extensive survey for informal carers of older people organised by the wellbeing services county. The survey was sent to 1,428 informal carers of older people who had a valid commission agreement with the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County during the survey. The survey was carried out as an electronic Webropol survey and a letter survey in both Finnish and Swedish between 27 June and 31 August 2025.
“The survey examined informal carers’ use of statutory leaves, information needs concerning services supporting informal care, preferences in the ways of obtaining information and using services, and the ease of contacting the informal care client manager,” says Project Manager Johanna Rannikko.
The respondents were also asked what helps them cope with being an informal carer, and they were asked for feedback, their wishes and development ideas.
“We received a total of 661 responses, which means that the response rate was 46.3%. Carers residing in Raasepori were the most active respondents, while those residing in Siuntio were the least likely to respond to the survey. Almost half of the respondents (47%) were aged 75–84 themselves, and the majority of them were spouses of the informal care recipient,” Rannikko summarises.
Informal carers rarely take leaves
Only slightly more than half of the respondents had taken an informal carer’s leave. The most common reasons for not taking leave were that the informal carer did not feel they needed to take a leave (32%) or that the care recipient refused to accept the service (27%). Only a few responses indicated that the services’ client fees or distances to the place of care prevented taking leave.
“The wellbeing services county must work on getting informal carers to take their leaves to help them cope,” says Rannikko.
A large proportion of the respondents felt that they needed more information on the different options of the informal carer’s leave, how it accumulates and how it is used. The open responses called for clear instructions for using the leave and for an easy way of scheduling leaves and accessing leave services.
“Many respondents requested information on short-term care periods, which is the most commonly used informal carer’s leave service. At the same time, the wellbeing services county should also raise awareness of the other options and what kinds of situations they are suitable for.”
Informal carers also needed information on many other functions supporting informal care, such as other services provided by the wellbeing services county (55%), support provided by the third sector (50%) and digital services (38%).
“It is often assumed that older people do not use digital services, but on the other hand, the responses to this survey revealed that they wish to receive information on digital services. More user support and clarity are needed in the digital service channels Oima and Lunna.”
Client managers are trusted
The survey examined informal carers’ preferred way of obtaining information. More than half of the respondents asked the client manager for information and preferred to contact their informal care client manager. Personal meetings with and support provided by client managers were praised.
“Still, the responses revealed the need to improve the availability of informal care support professionals. According to the responses, informal carers preferred to deal with their client manager, but many felt that they could not always reach the client manager when they needed to,” says Rannikko.
Only a third of the respondents said they had sought information on the luvn.fi website.
Almost 65% of the respondents preferred to use services by telephone, 28% by email and only around 7% via the digital service channel.
The criticism expressed in the open responses focussed on shortcomings in communicating and informing informal carers, insufficient informal carer’s allowance and difficulties in taking leaves. The respondents also wanted more appreciation and psychological support.
The answers will be used in building the Informal Carer’s Pathway
A website supporting informal carers’ access to information, Informal Carer’s Pathway, will be published in early 2026.
“The results of the client survey on informal care support will be used in a concrete manner to plan and construct the website and to develop services. The Informal Carer’s Pathway compiles information necessary for informal carers at different stages of their informal care path on one website,” says Rannikko.
The Informal Carer’s Pathway supporting the informal carers of older people (Omaishoitajan polulta tukea ikääntyneiden omaishoitajille) project has received discretionary government grants granted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health from the health promotion fund for the period 2/2025–12/2026.