Labor market costs for long-term family caregivers: the situation of caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury in Switzerland.
Care needs
Disability
Family caregivers
Labor market costs
Journal
BMC health services research
ISSN: 1472-6963
Titre abrégé: BMC Health Serv Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088677
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
22 Jun 2023
22 Jun 2023
Historique:
received:
18
11
2022
accepted:
16
05
2023
medline:
26
6
2023
pubmed:
23
6
2023
entrez:
22
6
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Family members are key in the provision of care to persons facing disability. To undertake the role as caregivers, they face many costs, being the setback in the labor market one of the most relevant. We analyze comprehensive data from long-term family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Switzerland. Using information about their working situation before and after becoming caregivers, we estimated the reduction in working hours and the associated income loss. On average, family caregivers reduced their working hours by about 23% (8.4 h per week), which has a monetary value of CHF 970 per month (EUR 845). Women, older caregivers, and less educated caregivers have a much higher opportunity cost in the labor market: CHF 995 (EUR 867), CHF 1,070 (EUR 932), and CHF 1,137 (EUR 990) respectively. In contrast, family members who care for a person that works have a much lower impact on their working status, CHF 651 (EUR 567). Interestingly, the reduction in their working time is only a third of the extra work they face as caregivers. Health and social systems rely on the unpaid work of family caregivers. To guarantee their long-term involvement, family caregivers need to be recognized for their work and potentially compensated. Without family caregivers, it is very unlikely societies can cope with the increasing need for care, as professional services are limited and expensive.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Family members are key in the provision of care to persons facing disability. To undertake the role as caregivers, they face many costs, being the setback in the labor market one of the most relevant.
METHODS
METHODS
We analyze comprehensive data from long-term family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Switzerland. Using information about their working situation before and after becoming caregivers, we estimated the reduction in working hours and the associated income loss.
RESULTS
RESULTS
On average, family caregivers reduced their working hours by about 23% (8.4 h per week), which has a monetary value of CHF 970 per month (EUR 845). Women, older caregivers, and less educated caregivers have a much higher opportunity cost in the labor market: CHF 995 (EUR 867), CHF 1,070 (EUR 932), and CHF 1,137 (EUR 990) respectively. In contrast, family members who care for a person that works have a much lower impact on their working status, CHF 651 (EUR 567). Interestingly, the reduction in their working time is only a third of the extra work they face as caregivers.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Health and social systems rely on the unpaid work of family caregivers. To guarantee their long-term involvement, family caregivers need to be recognized for their work and potentially compensated. Without family caregivers, it is very unlikely societies can cope with the increasing need for care, as professional services are limited and expensive.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37349784
doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09565-7
pii: 10.1186/s12913-023-09565-7
pmc: PMC10288702
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
676Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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