The needs analysis and the above summary show that the problem exists at different levels and that there are different needs and requirements. The project therefore had the following three objectives. • To give young people in need of care and their carers a voice and involve them in measures tailored to their wishes and needs • To offer these target groups a learning tool on measures and opportunities to improve their quality of life • To raise awareness among decision-makers at political and association level of urgently needed intervention measures Our goal was to promote inclusion and diversity in society and to strengthen self-help opportunities in situations where people are particularly vulnerable. The aim was to sustainably improve the resilience and living situation of young people in need of care and their informal carers by supporting them with an educational offer and information. It was important to share the perspectives of other informal caregivers and to design an offer based on these needs and insights.
The starting point for the project was the work of the partner organisations, which have been committed to the integration and participation of marginalised groups for many years. The partners focus on topics such as ageing and care. In this context, it became apparent that there is a serious gap in care provision for younger people in need of care (aged 18-65). In this context, the need for care primarily refers to a need for care acquired in adulthood (e.g. due to accidents or early dementia). There are not enough age-appropriate care and support services, relatives are not provided with sufficient relevant information and learning materials, organisations do not have suitable services, and policy makers know too little about this target group and their relatives. Those in need of care and their relatives, as informal carers, are often faced with special challenges. They may have children to care for, a job to attend to, or personal interests and needs that could differ from those of people in geriatric care. For many people, the illness strikes unexpectedly at a stage in life when most people would not expect it. TThere is a great need here on a personal and structural level, which we wanted to address with this project.