Informal care

Informal care refers to the provision of care by a family member or other loved one to a person living with a disability or illness at home. The informal caregiver is entitled to the caregiver’s fee and statutory days off, during which another caregiver steps in, either at home or in a caregiving facility, to attend to the care recipient’s needs.

What to do when you need information about services for people with disabilities

Please contact Counselling for People with Disabilities by phone or email. Alternatively, you can visit one of our service points in person. If you already have a designated responsible worker for city-provided disability services, please don't hesitate to seek guidance and advice from them.

See the contact information for Counselling for People with Disabilities

Our services

Informal care support for a family member of a person with a disability

Informal care support is applied for using the informal care application form. The caregiver’s fee and number of days off are determined on the basis of the care recipient’s care group.

Care of persons receiving informal care when their caregivers take days off

When you as an informal caregiver take a day off, we can arrange care at the home of the person being cared for or in a short-term care facility.

Informal caregiver’s discretionary leave days

If necessary, we can support your coping by arranging discretionary care for your care recipient in a service housing unit. Day activities can also support your coping.

Contact information for the informal care support workers

You can find the telephone numbers of the informal care support workers as well as the contact information of your local service point.

Coaching courses for informal caregivers

Informal caregivers of individuals with disabilities in Helsinki have the opportunity to attend coaching to support them in their caregiving role.

Free-of-charge exercise for informal caregivers

Informal caregivers can get free access to the City of Helsinki’s swimming halls, sports halls, gyms and weightlifting rooms, outdoor swimming pools and sports courses!

You are eligible if you have concluded an informal care agreement with the City of Helsinki and you receive informal care support or salary paid by the City of Helsinki. You need a pay statement or payslip, dated less than three months ago, to prove your status.

Entrance is free of charge during the public opening hours at the following City of Helsinki locations:

Swimming halls: Itäkeskus, Jakomäki, Pirkkola and Yrjönkatu
Gyms and weightlifting rooms
Sports halls
Swimming Stadium and Kumpula outdoor swimming pools
Informal caregivers can also participate free of charge in sports courses and other guided sports organised by the city.

Day, holiday and work activities for schoolchildren and adults with disabilities

We organise morning, afternoon and school-holiday activities for pupils with disabilities who are within the scope of extended compulsory education.

Explore the activities organised by the comprehensive school

We offer work and day activities for those who are past the compulsory education age.

Explore work and day activities

Information elsewhere

The Association of Carers in Helsinki and Vantaa (in finnish)

The Association of Carers in Helsinki and Vantaa is a support and advocacy organisation for informal caregivers. The association organises peer activities and advises Helsinki residents caring for their loved ones.

Carers Finland

Carers Finland is a national advocacy and support association for carers. The association offers a helpline and chat service.

You might be interested in

Special care allowance (Kela)

The special care allowance is a compensation for loss of income available in situations where a person providing for a sick or disabled child under the age of 16 years is unable to do their regular work .

Disability allowance for persons under 16 years (Kela)

The allowance is intended to provide support in the daily lives of children under 16 years who have an illness or a disability. The child can be awarded disability allowance if they need regular care, attention and rehabilitation due to illness or disabil

Service needs assessment and support for families with children

The Service Needs Assessment and Support Unit for Families with Children provides guidance, advice and immediate help and support. We will assess your need for support and services comprehensively together with your family.

Home services for families with children

If your family is under strain or your life situation suddenly changes, you can get help at home. Home Services aims to support the family’s own resources.

You can also find this page at hel.fi/disability-services-informal-care.