Our international conference Empowering families, enabling self-determination in Turin widely explored the theme of care, both formal and informal, and how service providers can better collaborate with families to improve support for people with disabilities. On 29 October, we also celebrated the International Day of Care and Support. 

Building on this, we are presenting Eurofound’s report featuring the latest data on informal care in the European Union. 

read the full report

Background: the high prevalence of informal care in the EU

Across the EU, 45% of people provide “some form of informal care” and around 1 in 10 combines multiple roles, such as caring for children or older family members. The over-reliance on unpaid and informal care reveals weaknesses of the available services, which can be too costly, not accessible, or simply not present in some areas. When this happens, households must find alternative solutions. This often means providing informal care at the expense of their participation in employment, of gender equality (since the large majority of carers is a woman), as well as their participation in society.

Challenges and opportunities for a structural shift of the delivery of care

Deinstitutionalisation

Unpaid care is often seen as a cost-effective way of enabling “ageing in place” and preventing the placement of people in institutional residential care settings. Institutions are described in the report as “entailing isolation, depersonalisation, lack of participation in society, and rigidity of routine”. However, the report underlines that, if not paired with community-based support, deinsitutionalisation may lead to an increase of informal care.

That is why EASPD calls for more affordable and accessible high-quality support services that are person-centered, community and families based and aim to foster social inclusion.

The digital transition

The report shows that new digital technologies, tools, and platforms have the potential to support unpaid carers. However, this risks to reinforce inequalities and social exclusion, and increase responsibilities on informal carers. To prevent this, we need investment in digital training, inclusive access to infrastructure, and ensuring this is part of broader policies that ensure social protection and availability of community-based support.

The green transition

Natural disasters or heatwaves also impact the needs of people for care and support. The report underlines how adverse natural events may increase the reliance on informal carers. At the same time, adapting care support to climate change opens opportunities (e.g. via circular or social economy). Still, many unpaid carers face financial constraints and may not be able to access green technologies or services.

Key recommendations: EU opportunities

The report concludes with key recommendations for the EU:

• To formally recognise informal carers and adopt legal definitions of carers enabling self-identification through registries or certificates.
• To expand formal care systems by increasing investment in affordable and high-quality service, reducing waiting lists and closing regional disparities.
• To strengthen financial and social protection measures for carers: direct financial support (allowances, subsidies, tax credits, and pension credits), leave and flexible work arrangements, well-being measures (respite services, counseling, peer support).
• To leverage upcoming key European initiatives such as the next EU Gender Equality Strategy, or the first EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.

A critical and central conclusion of the report is that unpaid and informal care must become a choice, rather than a compulsory obligation.

This aligns with our Turin Declaration, co-signed by 13 European networks, that calls for action to ensure sustainable, community-based support systems that empower families and informal carers and promote self-determination and participation for people with disabilities.