Income and Nursing Care – An Analysis of the Financial Situation of Family Carers

The burden of nursing is unevenly distributed across age and gender, and this inequality is reflected in differences in gross income between carers and non-carers. However, considering only gross income throws an incomplete light on the financial situation of carers, as it fails to take into account the household context and the redistributive effect of the tax and transfer system. As is to be expected, the differences in needs-weighted net household income are significantly smaller, resulting in a very similar level of prosperity between carers and noncarers. Nevertheless, variations according to age, gender and the extent of the care needed remain. Greater differences in prosperity can be observed among younger age groups and when the level of care required rises. Overall, however, when changes in social policy are considered, there appears to be little need for further financial compensation. The present study suggests that it would be more helpful for family carers if their working hours could be made more flexible.