Informal care support for the elderly and people with memory disorders

In informal care, a family member or other close person takes care of an older person on a daily basis at home.

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Informal care support includes a care allowance, statutory leave and other services. We grant informal care support when an older person needs daily care and attendance from a family member in order to be able to live at home.

An informal caregiver can be a family member, relative or other close person. The informal caregiver must be sufficiently healthy and functional to be able to take care of the care receiver.

The service needs assessment is based on the individual situation of the informal care family and the application submitted, a doctor's medical opinion and a home visit. In our assessment, we consider the demands of the care, the commitment required, and the need for monitoring and guidance of the care receiver. We will make the decision on informal care support based on the assessment. You will receive the decision on informal care support in Maisa or by letter to your home.

We will conclude an informal care agreement with the caregiver.

- If you are interested in learning more about informal care support, please contact the Senior Info unit.

- If you wish to assess whether you could receive informal care support, complete an assessment on your informal care situation in Omaolo.

- If you wish to apply for informal care support, please fill in the application form on the Maisa client portal. Attach to the application an up-to-date healthcare statement (less than one year old) that adequately describes the situation, such as a medical statement C, which indicates the diagnosis, current state of health and functional capacity of the person being treated.

- Alternatively, you can fill in a printable form or ask the Senior Info unit to send the form to you.

Informal care demands define the care group and care allowance

When we decide on informal care support, we also determine the appropriate care group for the care receiver depending on how much care is required.  

The care group is determined based on the daily amount of personal care or guidance, its demands and the commitment required in the following everyday activities: 

  • washing
  • eating 
  • exercise
  • medication 
  • getting dressed
  • going to the toilet 
  • other chores related to health and medical care 
  • other support needs, such as night-time care.

We define the care group based on the award criteria.

The care group determines the amount of allowance given to the informal caregiver and the number of statutory leave days to be granted. There are three care groups. 

The informal caregiver’s care allowance is paid monthly and is taxable income. The statutory leave days do not reduce the caregiver’s care allowance.

In the first group, the care situation requires the informal caregiver to work around the clock. The care receiver can only be left alone for a moment and needs assistance with almost all their daily activities and also during the night. An informal caregiver belonging to the first group is unable to work outside the home. The care allowance for an informal caregiver belonging to the first group is at most EUR 1,999.57 per month in 2024. In this group, the informal caregiver has three statutory leave days per month.

Caring for persons in the second group is either physically or mentally taxing. The care receiver needs assistance several nights a week. The care receiver can be left home alone for a short period of time, for example while out shopping for groceries. The care allowance for an informal caregiver belonging to the second group is at most EUR 922.69 per month in 2024. In this group, the informal caregiver has three statutory leave days per month.

In the third group, the person needs care and attendance several times a day. The care receiver only needs assistance occasionally or not at all at night and can spend several hours home alone during the day. The informal caregiver does not necessarily have to live with the care receiver, instead the caregiver visits the care receiver on a daily basis. The informal caregiver can go to work. The care allowance for an informal caregiver belonging to the third group is at most EUR 508.41 per month in 2024. In this group, the informal caregiver has two statutory leave days per month.