Caregivers, those people who take care of an elderly, sick or disabled relative in addition to their work, can now benefit from compensated leave. A breakthrough, according to associations, but which does not go far enough to really relieve them. What if we go further?
From October 1, 2020, salaried caregivers will be able to claim compensated leave of three months, renewable up to one year.. A device for those who take care of a sick, elderly or disabled loved one … Unanimously approved by the National Assembly in October 2019, it will be open to all employees. private and public, as well as self-employed workers and compensated job seekers The amount of this aid: 43.83 euros per day for a person in a couple and 52.08 euros per day for a caregiver who lives alone, paid by CAF and the funds of the agricultural social mutuality.
According to government figures, 8 to 11 million people in France regularly help a loved one with loss of autonomy, and among them, nearly one in two is employed, or about four million people. According to a UNA-Senior Stratégic barometer published in 2014, 76% of caregivers are women, and the proportion of people affected increases with age, with 8% of 18-40 year olds compared to 24% for 61-79 year olds.
"Symbolically, for caregivers, it is very strong, because it is a recognition on the part of the government", explains Alice Steenhouwer, director of Avec Nos Proches (a national helpline and information for all caregivers). "On the other hand, there is a 'but', because this paid leave is far from perfect", she adds, detailing the various points to be reworked.
# 1 The rate of pay
For Alice Steenhouwer, the proposed rate of remuneration is low: "Within the association, we ask ourselves the question: will caregivers really take this leave tomorrow? Will they take it rather than go on sick leave? It is a big point of interrogation. " This compensation could therefore be too low to allow caregivers to live with dignity.
# 2 The three-month duration
Another problem, the time granted, that is to say the three months of leave. "In the life of a caregiver concerned by long-term pathologies, it is very short! Especially since we will be led more and more to help several people in our existence. in a full career, it's really very short ", says the director of Avec Nos Proches.
In the French health system without caregivers, we are nothing. We really have to keep fighting for them.
# 3 The number of people affected by this leave
Be careful, the compensated leave will not concern the 11 million caregivers recorded, explains Alice Steenhouwer. "To receive it, you have to meet specific criteria. It is only on very high levels of dependence or disability that the caregiver can receive this paid leave. Our association insists on the following message: let's not say to all caregivers that they can perceive it, because it is not true, and this will create even more frustration among people in great fragility. The leave must therefore be broadened quickly. accompanies a loved one who has cancer, it is not only when he is at the end of his life, in palliative care, that one needs a leave to be by his side. It is before ", she insists.
# 4 Publicize resources
Caregivers can in theory access resources to feel less alone: helplines, "respite platforms", psychologists … But they do not use them because they have little information. es, after Alice Steenhouwer. "There is a whole personal reflection to be carried out, in order to define oneself as a caregiver first of all, and to use aids for oneself. Unfortunately, these are very disparate in France. that all the territories give answers. And the government must make these solutions visible ", considers our interlocutor, who however evokes an important stage. "This leave gives real recognition to caregivers, it is a real step forward and we must really highlight them, because we are talking here about people who remain invisible. In the French health system, without the caregivers, we are nothing. We must really continue to fight for them ", she concludes.
Want to exchange with other caregivers? Do not hesitate to call the With Our Relatives crisis line at 01 84 72 94 72 (every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.).