Satakunta organizations urge funding for family caregiver support amid budget constraints in Finland

Support organizations for family caregivers in Satakunta are urging the welfare region to secure funding for caregiver support. On Monday, the welfare area announced it would be entering into new agreements for caregiver support this year due to budget constraints. This year, €18.4 million has been allocated for caregiver support in the Satakunta region, but forecasts indicate that the budget may be exceeded by nearly half a million euros.

Organizations including Satakunta Family Caregivers, the Family Caregivers’ Association, and the Kankaanpää region’s family caregivers emphasize that caregiving at home is significantly more cost-effective than institutional care. They state in a joint statement, “Supporting family care is not only financially sensible but also ethically right. When family caregivers are provided adequate resources, they can care for their loved ones at home, thereby alleviating the public sector’s costs.”

They also highlight a potential equality issue, referring to a ruling by the EU Court of Justice that mandates member states treat their citizens equally. “If family caregivers, most of whom are women, do not receive adequate compensation for their work, it could indicate structural discrimination, which may lead to scrutiny from the EU regarding violations of fundamental rights.”

Currently, caregivers receive an average compensation of €500 per month. The organizations warn that while cutting caregiver support may yield immediate savings, it is an unsustainable long-term solution. They stress that the right to fair compensation for caregivers is essential for equality and human dignity.

Amidst financial struggles, the welfare regions across Finland are facing challenging economic conditions, with the Satakunta welfare region’s deficit projected to reach €87 million this year. The region is currently seeking significant savings to prevent intervention from the Ministry of Finance, with proposals for service consolidation being discussed on Tuesday. Earlier this year, one redundancy negotiation resulted in the dismissal of 35 employees, and over a thousand more are facing layoffs.