Caregivers in France seek political recognition and systemic reform

In France, millions of caregivers providing support to elderly, sick, or disabled individuals face significant financial, administrative, and emotional strain. As the presidential election approaches, there is a growing call to integrate the needs of these caregivers into political programs, specifically regarding formal status recognition, access to respite services, and the simplification of administrative procedures.

The current support system for loss of autonomy is divided between aging and disability. This division results in different ministerial oversight and distinct aid programs: the Ministry of Health and Prevention manages elderly care, while the Ministry of Solidarity, Autonomy and Disabled Persons handles disability. Consequently, assistance is split between the APA (Allocation personnalisée d'autonomie) for the elderly and the PCH (Prestation de compensation du handicap) for people with disabilities.

While people with disabilities benefit from a single point of contact through the MDPH (Maison départementale des personnes handicapées), caregivers for the elderly often struggle to navigate complex departmental funding and information systems.