Issues faced by caregivers of elderly, disabled, or aging individuals.

Close caregivers are family members, friends, or neighbors. They represent 60% of caregivers and dedicate their time to performing a variety of tasks. Among these tasks, caring for the elderly helps facilitate the home life of dependent people following a disability, illness, or old age.

Their tasks related to direct care and mobilization, coordination, and general organization of medical and social support at home are unpaid. Even though "they" are mostly women, men are also involved. They say they are ready to commit more if conditions allowed. However, close caregivers suffer the repercussions of their involvement daily and the risks they face in their health, social, and professional lives. They are subjected to stress of varying intensity over a period of several months, even years. Sometimes, they are called upon until exhaustion.

Difficulties and exhaustion

The spirit of loyalty to family or cultural traditions or a promise to honor are the foundations of their motivation. To avoid the exhaustion to which they are subjected, they could get help from health professionals. However, financial considerations disrupt this need. Thus, beyond their desire to do well and even if they know they are exposed to the risks of physical and psychological exhaustion, they have little choice but to endure. This is due to the fact that they do not know the means that could help them.

Solutions exist

This exhaustion is not inevitable. Some of them can benefit for free from help through housing in exchange for services. Indeed, today many people with nursing qualifications are looking for housing and do not necessarily have the guarantees required for it. The solution for them is to offer their services to families. In exchange for a room or part of a home, they can be housed. So a win-win solution offering some peace of mind to the host and the supportive cohabitant.