Support for informal care

Informal care refers to the treatment and care provided at home by a relative or loved one to a person whose ability to function has deteriorated and coping with everyday life requires the help of another person. Situations requiring informal care can be acknowledged by granting informal care support which consists of a carer's allowance and other support services. If the criteria for granting the support are met, the wellbeing services county and the informal carer sign an Informal Carer's Agreement. The objective is to support the customer's coping at home and to maintain the informal carer's resources. Support for informal care is arranged in compliance with the Act on Support for Informal Care (937/2005). The amount of the informal carer's care allowance is determined on the basis of how binding and demanding the informal care is. The informal carer's resources are supported by arranging days off from informal care tasks and by providing, for example, coaching to support informal care as well as the possibility of a voluntary health examination. An appointed worker will be assigned to the customer in informal care. Other social and health care services can also be arranged for the customer in addition to informal care, if necessary. During the informal carer's leave, care can be arranged, for example, with the help of a substitute informal carer, in the form of care services at home, in a service housing unit or a foster home, or with the help of other social services that are suitable for the situation. The availability of the various forms of carrying out care during the informal carer's leave may vary in the wellbeing services county. You and your relative or loved one could be eligible for informal care allowance if: - the informal care is demanding and constantly binding every day - your relative or loved one is willing and able to be responsible for informal care in terms of their state of health and life situation - your home is suitable for your care - informal care is within your best interests and an adequate way to organise care for your health and safety

Conditions for receiving the Service

According to the Act on Support for Informal Care (937/2005), a Wellbeing Services County can grant support for informal care in the following cases: - a person needs treatment or care at home due to reduced functional ability, illness, disability or other similar reason; - the relative of the person being cared for or other person close to them is prepared to take responsibility for the person's treatment and care supported by other necessary services; - the carer's health and functional ability meet the requirements of informal care; - informal care, along with other necessary health care and social welfare services, is adequate in terms of the well-being, health and safety of the person being cared for; - the home of the person being cared for is suitable for the treatment provided there in terms of health and other conditions; and - granting the support is deemed to be in the best interests of the person being cared for. The support is granted for binding and demanding informal care situations. The assessment of how binding and demanding the informal care is takes into account the client's functional ability, need for assistance and the informal carer's share of the total amount of care.

The service is subject to a charge.