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Opportunities for professional advice
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As the topic varies greatly across Europe, you will find the information divided by country. You will find the information for your own country translated into your national language. By clicking on the country flag and selecting other country flags, you can also access the information for other European countries in English.
Why is professional advice for informal caregivers of great importance?
Professional advice is essential for informal caregivers for several reasons:
- Informal caregivers often face complex situations that require specialised knowledge, such as managing medical conditions, understanding medications, or navigating healthcare systems. Professional advice provides them with the guidance needed to make informed decisions about care.
- Caregiving can involve a range of tasks, from administering medication to providing emotional support. Professional advice can help informal caregivers develop essential skills, enhancing their ability to provide effective and compassionate care.
- Caring for a loved one can be emotionally taxing and lead to feelings of isolation or burnout. Access to professional advice, whether through counselling or support groups, helps caregivers manage stress and maintain their own mental health, ensuring they can provide better care.
Professional advice is regarded as a training modality. Drawing on the Italian Trainers‘ Association concept of training, it is understood as “Helping individuals to evolve in terms of knowledge (knowing), skills (knowing how to do), and attitudes (knowing how to be) – sometimes by conveying precise content, sometimes by encouraging reflection on experience; and increasingly by working on both these levels simultaneously.”
Advice may be individual or group based. For the helping professions, supervision is indispensable, not only at the beginning of the career, but throughout it.
The platform to search for online psychological support groups is shown below (regional example).
Relevant professional advice services for informal caregivers in Italy
In Italy, the following services are available at national, regional and local level: Consultori Familiari (Family Counselling Centres), Centri per il Supporto ai Caregiver (Caregiver Support Centres), Counselling Services by Geriatricians and Family Doctors.
Consultori Familiari (Family Counseling Centers)
These are public family counselling centres available in most cities. They offer free psychological support, social services, and medical consultations. Caregivers can access advice on managing family dynamics, emotional stress, and healthcare for their loved ones. These centres are available through local health authorities (ASL).
Contact your local health authority (ASL). You can find details on the official website of your region or municipality.
Centri per il Supporto ai Caregiver (Caregiver Support Centers)
These centres, often managed by municipalities or local health services, offer direct support to caregivers, including guidance on care strategies, stress management, and navigating the healthcare system. Contact your local municipality (Comune) or healthcare centre to have access to these centres.
Search on your municipalities or region’s website.
Counselling Services by Geriatricians and Family Doctors
Family doctors (medici di base) and geriatricians play a key role in advising informal caregivers on the medical care for elderly or sick family members. They can guide caregivers on medical treatments, prescriptions, and home care needs. Consult your family doctor or healthcare provider to have access to these services.
Click on this link to consult the portal of the National Health Service.
How to find opportunities for professional advice?
Below you will find some information on how to find opportunities for professional advice in Italy.
Start by identifying the key local resources available in your region or municipality. Many services for caregivers are managed locally by public health organisations, municipalities, or volunteer associations.
You can contact your Local Health Authority as it often provides free services such as counselling and medical advice for caregivers. Visit the official website of your region or local health authority.
Every municipality in Italy has a social services department (Servizi Sociali) offering support for caregivers. You can find contact information on your municipality’s official website.
Example: Visit the website of your town or city’s Comune and look for “Servizi Sociali”.
Good practices
Progetto Sollievo (Respite Project) – Regione Veneto
The Progetto Sollievo in the Veneto region is an excellent initiative to provide respite services to informal caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementia-related conditions. This programme offers temporary relief through structured services such as day centres, home care assistance, and psychological support.
Resources
Manuale per i Caregiver Familiari – Ministero della Salute [Caregivers’ Manual – Ministry of Health]
A guide created by the Italian Ministry of Health to help informal caregivers manage the care of elderly or family members with disabilities. It offers practical advice on how to handle day-to-day caregiving tasks, navigate the healthcare system, and access support services.
Guida ai Diritti del Caregiver – INPS [A Guide to Caregivers’ Rights]
Published by INPS, the Italian National Institute for Social Security, this document provides information on the legal rights and financial benefits available to informal caregivers in Italy.
Connected topics
What can you do if you feel insecure about providing informal care?
As a caregiver there are times when you might feel lost, and might need some help. You probably have medical and technical questions, or you do not know how to handle intimate care moments. Perhaps you are wondering how to balance all the demands of caregiving, family and work life and your own needs. Some people find it helpful to talk to others in similar circumstances.
There are people who know what informal caregiving means because they do it themselves or people who became experts in a particular illness because they or their relatives have to cope with it. In those cases, looking for a self-help group is helpful.
You can find more information here: Self-help groups. If you feel totally overwhelmed by and do not know what to do at all, you can look here for information on psychological support.
In addition, as informal caregiver, you can get a Pflegeberatung (care advice) and take part in care courses offered free of charge by care insurance providers. There is also a wealth of material online to help improve the quality of home care for you and the person you care for.
In the following section you will find information on care advice and courses as well as further online links about issues which can cause insecurities in informal care.
How to find professional advice on caring?
If you are looking for professional advice, attending a Pflegekurs (care course) can be helpful. These courses are paid by care insurance providers and offered by a variety of organisations. You can find some of these services below. Information on critical aspects of the care process can be found on the internet too. It complements what you learn in the courses.
Pflegekurse (care courses) by non-profit organisations
Some non-profit organisations offering ambulatory care services provide care courses as well. These courses can be found locally or online and are funded by the health insurance.
Malteser and Johanniter are two organisations that offer care courses onsite and online. Just register and name your health insurance for an online course: Link 1 | Link 2.
Pflegekurse (Care courses) by private companies
Private companies offer care courses which are paid by care insurance providers.
One of those companies is Pflege-Betreuer (Gesundheit von Morgen GmbH)
Zentrum für Qualität in der Pflege/ ZQP (centre for quality in care)
ZQP offers a lot of independent and free materials concerning professional and home care. These materials are meant to improve the quality of care and provide a lot of information. They can be downloaded or sent by post free of charge.
There are many critical aspects of care; coping with feelings of shame or violence in the caring process are among the most important. ZQP provides interesting leaflets about it: Link 1 | Link 2.
How to find professional advice?
You can receive care counselling and attend care courses for free in German. Let’s see what you have to do!
There are many different types of care insurance benefits. Especially at the beginning, it can be helpful to seek care advice to learn more about them. Insured persons who receive care insurance benefits are entitled to such counselling from their care insurance provider or the private insurance company with which they have taken out a compulsory care insurance policy. The same applies to insured people who are not yet receiving benefits but have applied for benefits.
When you are applying for benefits from the care insurance provider, they will automatically offer you care advice at home or a voucher for a counselling session in a specialised institution, mainly in Pflegestützpunkten (care support centres).
Care courses serve to facilitate and improve care and support. They are meant to reduce physical and mental stress caused by caregiving and prevent it from developing these problems. Your care insurance is required to organise free onsite training courses for people who care for a relative and for other people interested in voluntary care work. Some of these courses are offered in cooperation with care services, adult education centres, neighbourhood help or educational associations. Some services are mentioned on this page.
You can also search for these courses on the internet by using keywords like “Pflegekurs (Care course)”, the name of the town where you live and the name of your health/care insurance.
People with private insurance enjoy the same statutory right for care courses. In that case, the courses are provided by Medicproof. Medicproof is the medical service of the private health insurance companies.
Good practices
The family coach: an online self-help programme
This free, online self-help programme is offered by a large German health insurance company, and is available to everyone. It should strengthen your day-to-day care skills thanks tips, interactive exercises, videos and audios.
Summary of care counselling services
This leaflet of the Zentrum für Qualität in der Pflege/ ZQP (Centre for Quality in Care) lists the different care counselling services in Germany and names ten aspects of good counselling.
Ergänzende Unabhängige Teilhabeberatung (EUTB) (Supplementary Independent Participation Counselling)
The EUTB is a peer-counselling centre for people with disabilities, their relatives and all interested parties. The centre supports you on issues related to participation and rehabilitation. There are around 500 EUTBs throughout Germany.
Resources
General information on care courses by the Federal Ministry of Health.
General information on care advice by the Federal Ministry of Health can be found here.
Connected topics
How to find opportunities for professional advice in Portugal?
You may not have been prepared to take on the new role of an informal caregiver in your life. At first, it can be overwhelming to try and learn about the condition affecting a care recipient while also caring for them.
Professional advice may relieve some of your stress, thanks to professionals teaching you about the disease or condition that the adult with care needs and disabilities has.
External advice can also assist you in enhancing your skills, knowledge, and development. This may vary considerably regarding each specific condition. Healthcare professionals and formal caregivers not only understand the various medical conditions and their implications but can also provide valuable insights that are crucial for enhancing both your well-being and that of the care recipient.
The YoungCare project has put together a list of available services and provided a step-by-step guide on how to look for these professional advice opportunities in Portugal, along with good practices and useful materials.
Which are the services for professional advice in Portugal?
In Portugal, even if limited, there are a few programmes available to you. Explore the services below to find out more.
Oferta formativa (Training programmes)
Explore a variety of free services provided by the Portuguese government to enhance your caregiving skills. These include programmes, guides, and manuals designed to support caregivers like you.
To explore their content, visit this website.
iSupport-Portugal
iSupport-Portugal is a free app that can be downloaded via a computer, mobile phone, or tablet. It was created to be used autonomously by informal carers of adults with dementia while being a good example of a support and training programme.
The app was designed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adapted for Portugal by a research team from the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), in partnership with the Alzheimer Portugal Association.
To know more about the app, visit this website.
CNS – Campo Neurológico (Neurological Centre)
This unit specialises in neurological conditions, like Alzheimer, Parkinson and other types of dementia. They offer programmes and informative sessions for you, some are free of charge while others cost around €10-15.
See the Centre’s offer on its website or Instagram page.
Which steps can be taken to receive professional advice?
There are some steps that you can take in order to find professional advice in Portugal that meets your needs and fits you situation.
The first step should always entail seeking information from healthcare professionals. The family doctor of care receivers should be able to share some tips and recommend where to look for additional help.
In case the family doctor was able to redirect you to some expert(s), you should go and see them as soon as possible. This way you may be able to expand your knowledge on how to take care of the care recipient properly, find out where you may receive professional supervision or discover more training programmes.
While healthcare centres are typically equipped to assist you, seeking information on your own can also be beneficial. This way, you can find support through free or paid training programmes tailored to your needs and those of your care recipient.
Good practices
Caregiver Training – Training Informal and Formal Caregivers
Tejo’s Estuary Local Health Unit has provided some free available training sessions for informal caregivers, in Vila Franca de Xira.
The Portuguese Association for People with Disabilities – Porto District Delegation offers the C²iD Project. Its aim is to empower informal caregivers in the area of disabilities. Approved under the “Portugal Social Innovation, Partnerships for Impact” Programme, it offers personalised intervention plans and discussion groups.
Resources
InformCare – The EU Information Hub on Informal Care
An app specifically designed to assist informal caregivers is being developed where they can obtain help from professionals and find more information on what they might need.
Informal caregivers – Training Offer
The Portuguese government offers some free online content on informal caregiver’s training, along with information about in person training.
Connected topics
Why should informal caregivers who support family members with care needs and disability seek professional advice, and what challenges could arise?
Informal caregivers, typically family members or friends who provide care to individuals without formal training, face numerous challenges that necessitate professional advice. Professional advice is crucial for informal caregivers to manage the multifaceted responsibilities of caregiving effectively. It ensures that they are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and support to provide high-quality care while maintaining their own well-being. Professional advice can empower caregivers to advocate for the rights and needs of the individuals they support. By understanding their role as advocates, caregivers can effectively communicate with healthcare providers, educators, and other professionals to ensure the individual’s needs are met.
Family caregivers may encounter several barriers when attempting to obtain professional advice. These barriers may make it more difficult for them to give their family members in need of care the best support and may also have an impact on their own wellbeing. These barriers include lack of knowledge as well as time and financial constraints. Some caregivers may feel embarrassed to ask for assistance, believing they should be able to manage on their own. If you live in rural or isolated areas, reaching medical professionals and specialists can be challenging. Additionally, bureaucratic barriers within health and social support systems can discourage you from seeking help.
Professional advisers who provide critical suggestions and support can help you even in your own homes (see respite care).
Professional advice plays a vital role in supporting caregivers. It promotes quality care, emotional well-being, skill development, and advocacy, ultimately improving the overall quality of life for both caregivers and the family members they support.
How to find opportunities for professional advice for informal caregivers?
In this section, you will find information about professional support for informal caregivers.
General information about support for caregivers
The Ministry of Social Security and Labour provides information for caregivers looking after a family member with a disability.
Click on this link, for more information.
Social support for people with disability and their caregivers
This section contains information about financial support, social services, housing adaptations, transport compensation and more.
Click on this link, for more information.
Atvejo vadyba, pagalba „viename langelyje“. (Case management, one-stop-shop assistance)
The Ministry of Social Security and Labour is proposing changes to make it easier for people with disabilities to find the help they need, to know where to go and what to expect. Case management is integrated into the disability assessment process. Once a disability has been identified, a case manager will be assigned to the person, who, together with the person and his/her relatives, will draw up a case management plan for the provision of comprehensive support and services.
Check this link, for more information.
Which steps can be taken to receive professional advice?
The following section contains a step-by-step guide to find professional advice in Lithuania.
Social services for people with disabilities in need are available in all municipalities across the country. To receive social services provided and partly financed by the municipality, people with disabilities and their families must apply to the municipality of residence, the municipality of the district where they live, and a social worker or a social services institution. General and/or special social services may be allocated and provided according to the social worker’s assessment of the social service needs of the person with disabilities and his/her family. More info here.
From a public mental health perspective, it is essential to create a legal environment that respects the civil, political, economic, cultural, and social rights of all people, including vulnerable groups (including people with mental disorders). This section provides you with information on State-guaranteed legal aid. More info here.
When caring for a family member with a disability, seeking emotional and psychological support is vital. The information in this section will help you find someone who can provide emotional and psychological support in your municipality. More info here.
Good practices
Active Recreation (respite) camp for families
Every year, the Lithuanian Society for the Care of People with Mental Disabilities organises an active recreation (respite) camp for families where at least one member of the family has a mental disability.
Connected topics
What to do to become an informal carer?
Becoming an informal carer can happen suddenly and unexpectedly, with little time to prepare for the different tasks that it entails. Or perhaps you think you have things under control, but there is a change in the health or needs of your loved-ones or yourself. The number of questions you may face can be overwhelming, but there are services available to help you answer them.
In the section you can find information, learning offers, and available services to help you take care of someone else.
If you are looking for other types of support, check our modules on available courses to build resilience, self-help groups and psychological help.
How to find opportunities for professional advice for informal carers?
There is a lot to learn when taking care of someone else: from the Dutch legal system to medical procedures. You can learn much through instructional videos, e-learning offers, or from professional caregivers, and this module will show you how. Many other things will come with experience. Check our self-help group module for information on how and where to contact peers.
Samen beter thuis
Samen beter thuis (Better at home together) offers practical instructional videos on how to take care of your loved ones. Instructions are divided into three main categories: Nursing (such as bathing and dressing), Mobility, (including how to use a wheelchair) and Information (on topics like medication management, communication, and regulations).
Find your learning topic here.
Courses and trainings
There are several online courses and training programmes available to cover the basics of informal care. They cover topics such as care laws, common chronic conditions and how to deal with them, understanding your role as an informal carer, and how to help others with their personal care:
Below, you will find a list of available e-learning offers on informal care.
Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3 | Link 4.
If you are looking instead for courses or training programmes to gain insights, balance, and resilience in your daily life, check the available courses and therapies module.
Reserved procedures
By law (under the BIG Act) certain medical procedures that under normal circumstances can only be performed by medical specialists because of the risk they pose to patients are classified as “reserved procedures”. They include procedures such as administering injections, inserting catheters, and changing stoma bags.
If appropriate and required, a professional may teach an informal carer or individual with care needs how to perform a specific procedure themselves. In that case, the professional will make sure you are sufficiently informed and capable of carrying out the task. Although the ultimate liability lies with you, this could also greatly benefit your independence and sense of control. Some care organisations may be unaware of the possibilities and liabilities. Make sure to discuss this with them if you wish to learn to take on more tasks.
Click on the links below for more information::
Good practices
Regelhulp is a government website that explains how care and support services are organised and financed.
Kennisplein Gehandicaptensector (Knowledge Platform for the Disability Sector)
Kennisplein Gehandicaptensector offers information and insights from care professionals, clients, and relatives through programmes, projects, meetings, social media, and their website. Their goal is to make information more accessible for everyone, in order to improve the quality of life and care in the disabled sector.