24-hour care: a case study with family and non-family caregivers in the region of La Garrotxa (Girona)

Abstract

The situation of family and non-family caregivers who provide 24-hour daily care to dependants is an often-hidden reality in society. This article analyses the circumstances of caregivers by means of a case study conducted in the region of La Garrotxa (Girona), one of the regions of Cataluña with the highest levels of old age and superannuation, as well as a high immigrant population that has dedicated itself in some cases to remunerated caregiving. The methodology used was principally qualitative, with 20 in-depth interviews conducted – ten with family caregivers and ten with non-family caregivers, as well as a comparison group of social workers. The results show that people who dedicate 24 hours per day to caring for dependant persons experience difficulty living conditions that place particular limits on their personal and social lives, and that have a notable impact on their state of health. The majority of these caregivers have been engaged in their roles for lengthy periods of time, making their situation especially vulnerable. Family caregivers emphasise a general sense of exhaustion due to performing a task with little recognition and a limited amount of support. Working conditions are particularly tough for non-family caregivers, stimulated by their irregular administrative circumstances that leave no room for access to improved conditions or work in different areas.