[Informal care and occupation: Factors influencing the willingness to provide care]

The proportion of people in need of care will continue to rise in Germany. In 2019, the majority of people in need of care was cared for at home. Reconciling caregiving and work poses a heavy burden for many caregivers. Therefore, a monetary compensation for care is being discussed politically in order to facilitate the reconciliation of work and care. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and under which circumstances a sample of the German population is willing to care for a close relative. A particular focus was placed on the willingness to reduce working hours, the importance of the expected period of caregiving, and monetary compensation.

A primary data collection was conducted in two modes using a questionnaire. A self-completion postal survey was sent out via the AOK Lower Saxony and complemented with an online survey. Data was analysed descriptively and using logistic regression.

543 participants were included. 90% of the sample surveyed was willing to provide care for a close relative, with the majority stating that their willingness depended on various factors: both the health status and the person of the family member needing care had the greatest influence. 34% of the employed respondents were not willing to reduce their working hours, mostly for financial reasons.

Many older adults want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Thus, the willingness to provide and take over the role of informal caregiver is and will remain a central pillar of the German care system. Negotiating between informal caregiving and professional activities often creates a substantial burden. For people from lower income households monetary compensation might enhance their willingness to provide informal care. However, in order to increase the willingness to engage in informal care of people from different backgrounds and life stages, flexible approaches are needed that go beyond monetary compensation.