The proliferation of various care services in most developed countries has led to a pressing demand for formal carers (such as nurses and health professionals) and, in particular, informal carers (notably family members and au pair operators) who are nowadays the backbone of long-term care systems in most European countries and beyond. The informal carers’ role is very challenging, given that they have to deal with a variety of symptoms, treatments and care services, which span a wide range of illnesses, diseases, chronic conditions and health problems. Specifically, informal carers need to be able to understand the various conditions of elderly patients and vulnerable individuals, while also possessing the knowledge and skills required to provide them support. At the same time, they are in need of psychological support in order to be able to cope with the psychological challenges of their role (i.e. the so-called emotional labour) and perform their tasks in a sustainable way.

EU and national long-term care policies acknowledge the role of informal carers and in several cases bring them incentives and financial benefits. However, there is still no adequate support to informal carers in terms of training towards improving their skills and alleviating their psychological stress.