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Caregiving relatives: advantages of working for Spitex

Since 2021, family carers in Switzerland have been entitled to financial compensation and a regular income for their indispensable work. This significant change has not only made life easier for many families, but has also given rise to new business models. Companies such as pflegewegweiser.ch, solicare.ch or angehörigenpflegeschweiz.ch have specialised in employing family carers, but without offering any other Spitex services.

But is it really advantageous to be employed by such providers? 
Or are there more advantages to being employed by an established Spitex organisation?

Lächelnde Frau in schwarzem Blazer schüttelt Hand einer anderen Person, die nur im Anschnitt von hinten zu sehen ist

What does it mean to be employed by a Spitex organization?

A Spitex organization provides outpatient services such as nursing and care at home. Since the new regulation, family carers must be employed by such an organization in order to receive state compensation. However, the benefits of such employment go beyond the financial aspects:

  1. Professional support: Spitex organizations offer access to professional advice and support from trained specialists. This is particularly valuable as home care can be complex and challenging.

  2. Training opportunities: As part of a professional organization, family caregivers have the opportunity to participate in training and continuing education. This strengthens their skills and enables them to provide higher quality care.

  3. Contact persons and exchange: Spitex employees have fixed contact persons and can exchange ideas with other carers. This promotes the exchange of experiences and offers psychological support.

Why might employment with other providers be problematic?

Companies that only employ family carers without offering any other Spitex services often focus primarily on the administrative processing of salary payments. This can lead to a number of disadvantages:

  1. Lack of specialist support: without access to specialist staff, family carers can quickly reach their limits, especially in difficult care situations.

  2. No further training: Further training opportunities are often not part of the service package offered by such companies. This can result in a lack of necessary qualifications, which ultimately impairs the quality of care.

  3. Isolation: Employment with a purely administrative provider can lead to family caregivers working in isolation, without the exchange and support of colleagues and professionals.

Financial and professional advantages of working for a Spitex organization

Employment with a Spitex organization offers family carers not only financial compensation, but also extensive support and further training opportunities. These aspects are crucial for the quality of care and the well-being of the carer themselves. Companies that only focus on the administrative processing of salary payments are often unable to offer this holistic support. It is therefore advisable for family caregivers to carefully examine employment options and choose an organization that offers professional and psychological support in addition to remuneration.