2024-09-28 10:30:00
We don’t choose to be a caregiver. We become one by force of circumstances, when a loved one – a child with a disability or an elderly and dependent parent – needs it.
Definition: what is a caregiver?
« Today, in people’s minds, when we talk about caregivers, we most often think of the caregiver of an elderly person or someone suffering from a degenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s, immediately notes Bénédicte Kail, national family education advisor at APF France handicap. We forget the caregivers of disabled people but also the caregivers of sick people who do not even exist in law. »
As its name suggests, the Caregiver is a person who comes to the aid of a dependent loved one on a voluntary basis. He can be a spouse, a parent, an uncle, a cousin, a neighbor or a friend. The Social Action and Families Code defines a caregiver as “ a person who helps, on a regular and frequent basis, in a non-professional capacity, to carry out all or part of the acts or activities of daily life of a person losing autonomy, due to age, illness or disability. »
Who are the caregivers in France?
France has nearly 11 million caregivers, that is to say one in six French people. The average age of caregivers is 49 years old, 60% are women and nearly 83% help a member of their family, including 44% one of their parents. “ Help consists of running errands and/or maintaining the home (81%), going outside (68%), organizing daily life (66%) or more personal help (health, hygiene, toilet). The majority of caregivers (93%) travel to their loved ones’ homes at least once a week and 73% several times a week. details the Ministerial Guide for Caregivers.
Many people are or become caregivers without realizing it. “ They slide gently and insidiously into this situation, especially when it gradually takes hold over time. », writes Marina Al Rubaée, co-author of the work Caregivers for Dummiesherself the eldest daughter of two deaf parents. “ They do not complain, they never share their difficulties, because they often consider this situation as “normal”, a “gift of self”, something instinctive that they do without asking themselves. of questions. »
The caregiver accompanies, supports and assists the loved one in difficulty: from preparing meals or washing to cleaning the house or administrative procedures. He assumes this role alone or in addition to professionals: carer, home help, etc.
How do I register and have the status of family caregiver? What steps to take?
Currently, there is no legal caregiver status. « The associations don’t want itsays Bénédicte Kail. A legal status is too confining. Carers do not want to be locked into this role. They want, on the other hand, recognition in terms of social rights of what this implies…»
If the family caregiver does not have a legal status strictly speaking, article R.245-7 of the Code of Social Action and Families nevertheless allows them to be legally characterized: “ Is considered a family caregiver, for the application of article L.245-12, the spouse, the cohabitant, the person with whom the beneficiary has concluded a civil agreement of solidarity, the ascendant, descendant or collateral up to the fourth degree of the beneficiary, or the ascendant, descendant or collateral up to the fourth degree of the other member of the couple who provides human assistance defined in application of the provisions of article L.245-3 of this code and who is not an employee for this assistance. »
There is no specific procedure to follow to become a caregiver but it is possible to request an administrative certificate from the Departmental Council. “ Simply send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt in which you certify on your honor to be a caregiver for your loved one (specify the nature of your relationship) in the context of their pathology (specify)explains the Ministerial Guide for Caregivers. You can also list the actions you perform in this caring role and the approximate hourly volume that this represents. Your loved one can also take this step on your behalf, and they will then be the ones to attest to what you are doing for them. It is through these declarations that the administrative status of the caregiver can be recorded. »
What are the rights of caregivers?
Although caregivers do not have legal status per se, they nevertheless benefit from rights.
The right to respite
Thus, the law relating to the adaptation of society to aging of December 28, 2015 establishes a right to respite to allow the caregiver of a person beneficiary of the APA to take a little rest. The caregiver benefits from an annual envelope of up to €500 to finance temporary accommodation in a nursing home, day care or increased home help. Time to breathe a little…
Caregiver leave
Caregiver leave offers the caregiver the opportunity to temporarily cease their professional activity to care for a disabled, loss of autonomy or elderly person with whom they maintain close and stable ties. This leave is subject to conditions – the person being cared for must be a disabled person or subject to a permanent loss of autonomy with a disability rate equal to or greater than 80% recognized by the departmental center for disabled people (MDPH). ) or a degree of dependence determined by the departmental council (assessed in GIR 1 to 3) – and its maximum duration is 3 months, renewable within the limit of one year over the entire professional career. To benefit from it, you must request it from your employer.
Caregiver leave: is there financial assistance? How much does a caregiver receive per month? What is the amount of the allowance?
Caregiver leave is compensated by the daily caregiver allowance (AJPA) up to €64.54 per day up to 66 days..
“Through battle, caregiver associations recently obtained that this right is rechargeable when a person helps several of their loved ones over the course of their life,” explains Bénédicte Kail. For example, a child with a disability and an elderly parent losing their independence…”
Including: from January 1, 2025, caregivers will be able to benefit from 66 days of compensation from the AJPA for each person helped (instead of 66 days in total) up to a limit of four people. “ The maximum number of daily allowances paid to a beneficiary cannot be greater than 264 over the entire career,” specifies the decree.
Employed caregiver: can you be paid to look after your parents?
It is possible to be paid when you help an elderly relative who is losing their independence by becoming their employee. The amount of the salary is calculated on the basis of the hourly rate of €14.33 gross per hour (2024). “ If the elderly person is not a beneficiary of the personalized autonomy allowance (APA), they can freely employ a member of their family as a home helper. If the elderly person is a beneficiary of APA, the law authorizes them to employ a member of their family (with the exception of the spouse, partner or PACS partner) as a home helper within the framework of the APA granted to him. The APA thus makes it possible to remunerate the family member it employs.informs the site www.pour-les-personnes-agees.gouv.fr As an employer, the elderly person must declare the hiring of their employee to Urssaf and respect the obligations provided for by the labor code: employment contract, pay slips, occupational health, continuing training, leave, regulations social security contributions and salaries. »
1727545583
#Family #caregivers #family #caregivers #France #support
