Supporting family caregivers in Île-de-France: an imperative of dignity

The problem of family caregivers, central to the functioning of our contemporary societies, paradoxically remains relegated to a marginal place in public debate. However, these essential actors, true silent pillars of our national solidarity, embody a form of self-sacrifice rarely equaled, rarely known, rarely recognized. In Île-de-France, their daily lives come up against constraints exacerbated by urban density and glaring territorial disparities. This vividly illustrates the persistent inability of public policies to meet the demands of such engagement.

Family caregivers, the overwhelming majority of whom are women, juggle a multiplicity of roles and obligations. They embody this solidarity in action which, in the shadows, bears at arm's length the fragilities of our society: 15% of French people, between 9 and 11 million lives, sacrificing their time, their energy and often their health to watch over a loved one. In addition to their professional responsibilities and their family responsibilities, caregivers take on the role of caregivers, confronted daily with complex situations requiring medical, administrative and psychological skills. So many tasks for which caregivers are not trained. This polyphony of roles inevitably creates mental overload, coupled with chronic physical and emotional exhaustion.

Various national studies, such as those published by the National Institute of Demographic Studies (INED), attest to the fragility of family caregivers, whom they identify as a population particularly vulnerable to the risk of burn-out and desocialization. Indeed, the informal nature of their commitment often confines them to social and institutional invisibility, amplified by a cultural and political conception which continues to consider their efforts as part of a moral, almost “natural” obligation, rather than a real work deserving recognition and support.

Despite the recent introduction of caregiver leave, the terms of which are still largely unknown and insufficient, support for caregivers remains fragmented between scattered, poorly coordinated systems that are often inaccessible to those who need it most. In Île-de-France, this fragmentation is particularly visible: Parisian residents benefit from a denser service offering, while those in peripheral areas, notably Seine-et-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis, must face a desert of suitable infrastructure. Added to this territorial inequality is a chronic shortage of places in specialized establishments and glaring deficiencies in home help services.

This situation reveals a fundamental tension between the proclaimed universal character of national solidarity and the reality of profoundly unequal care. Many caregivers thus find themselves locked in social and institutional isolation, accentuated by often Kafkaesque administrative procedures.

Recognition and support for family caregivers must therefore become a political priority. This recognition requires not only a symbolic revaluation of their role, but also ambitious structural reforms,

likely to transform their daily lives. Among the possible measures, the creation of respite spaces, distributed equitably throughout the Ile-de-France departments, constitutes an urgent response to their exhaustion. These structures, which could be designed in partnership with the Île-de-France Region and associations, would offer psychological, administrative and training support adapted to the specific needs of caregivers.

Above all, it is imperative to strengthen the funding allocated to home help networks, while simplifying the administrative procedures associated with their activation. The implementation of centralized digital systems, facilitating access to rights and benefits for caregivers, could also help to alleviate their mental burden.

Beyond concrete measures, it is appropriate to place the issue of caregivers in a broader philosophical and ethical perspective. Their commitment, which compensates for the failures of public institutions, illustrates a form of interindividual solidarity that our society cannot afford to ignore. This fight transcends partisan divisions, because it questions the capacity of our society to protect its most vulnerable members without sacrificing those who support them. By acting on behalf of caregivers, public authorities do not just repair an injustice: they strengthen the foundations of a more inclusive society, capable of combining the need for solidarity and human dignity.

So, it is time to end this institutionalized invisibility. Carers are not anonymous cogs in an indifferent system. Their commitment, although silent, carries with it the hope of a society reconciled with its fundamental values. It is up to public decision-makers to live up to this hope by acting with determination and boldness.