Who Nurses When and How Much?: An Inventory of Home Nursing Care in Germany

Most carers are of working age and the majority are working part-time, though there are also many in fulltime jobs. However, those who are not in paid employment spend significantly longer hours nursing. More women of working age than men are looking after a relative, and on average women also spend more time nursing, although among older cohorts the difference between the sexes is less marked. While the proportion of home carers differs only slightly in relation to net income, it rises significantly with the level of net assets. However, the average number of hours of care provided is in inverse proportion to the level of net income or net assets. As the population ages, it is becoming increasingly important to adapt the conditions that our society and companies provide for home nursing accordingly. If the political objective is to enable those in need of care to remain in the home environment as long as possible, the compatibility of work and family life – and this means taking care not only of children but also of infirm relatives – must be further improved.