Our objective was to better understand the practices implemented in other countries in order to improve our activities, reach more caregivers, and develop new projects. The concrete objectives are divided into three points: 1. Develop a guide of best practices to support caregivers in Europe and defend their rights. Highlight three good practices in each country so that they can be implemented elsewhere to support more caregivers in Europe. 2. Share training programs and tips to support caregivers, with a particular focus on caregivers from rural areas for whom access to information is more difficult. 3. Compare the situation of caregivers in our respective countries, their problems, their rights, etc., in order to call for the harmonization of caregivers across the European Union in the near future.
Caregivers (also called informal caregivers, family caregivers, proches aidants, aidants, aidants-proches etc.) are people who provide regular and free care to a family member, friend, or loved one who is experiencing a loss of autonomy due to illness, disability, or age. They are essential to the European healthcare system. Yet, this group and topic remain broadly unknown. Collaboration between the various associations working for caregivers is still relatively ineffective. This is why our three associations, Aidants Proches ASBL located in Namur, Belgium, APAS 82 based in the Tarn-et-Garonne department (82) in France, and the Greek caregiver association EPIONI in Athens, joined forces to create the EUROPAIDANTS project: Together and United, Let's Reflect on Opening Our Practices to Help Caregivers. This project ran from September 1st, 2023, to February 28th, 2025.