Spain current state of care
Now more than ever, governments, public entities, the private sector and all citizens have roles to play in addressing the family (unpaid) carer problem. Carers should not have to face these hardships and inequities alone. As a society, we can help them, together. See why we need to provide more structured support and help from our key findings and insights directly from carers around the world.
What is your country currently doing to support carers?
Find out all you need to know about the current state of care in Spain. Our information covers topics like legislation, working arrangement for carers, respite care, what your country is doing to financially support carers, pension credits and the information and training you have access to.
Legislation
Current practises
The Law 39/2006 on the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for Dependent People (Dependency Law) defines unpaid carers as people of the family not linked to a professionalized attention service.i It is important to note that certain regions in Spain have a broader definition of an unpaid carer.
Opportunities to increase support
Expand the definition of unpaid carer on a national level.
Working arrangements
Current practises
Unpaid carers are entitled to unpaid leave up to two years to take care of a family member for reasons of age, accident, illness or disability.iii
Opportunities to increase support
Provide a national employment policy which includes paid and flexible care leave, flexible working conditions, and the promotion of a work-life balance.
Respite care
Current practises
There are limited respite care services depending on the region where the unpaid carer lives.
Opportunities to increase support
Nationally recognize respite care as a right and provide more funding to implement respite care in all regions.
Financial support
Current practises
The Spanish Government provides financial benefits for dependent people if they cannot access social services as a first option. This support will pay for care costs in an accredited center or for care offered by non-professional carers, such as family members.ii
Opportunities to increase support
Reduce the bureaucratic hurdles so unpaid carers can easily receive financial support for care recipients.
Pension credits
Current practises
Only those unpaid carers who actively participated in the workforce can benefit from retirement pension. They have a right to flexible or partial retirement if they meet certain conditions.iv
Opportunities to increase support
mprove pension rights and benefits for unpaid carers that had to leave the workforce to provide care.
Information and training
Current practises
Training of unpaid carers at the regional level was regulated by a resolution to the Dependency Law. It requires regions to train and assess the skills of all carers.v
Opportunities to increase support
Provide support to regions to increase education and training. Implement an integrated approach of community support to unpaid carers so they can access community- based services.
References
i Spain Ministry of Employment and Social Security. (2009). Agreement on common accreditation criteria for training and information for non- professional carers. Page 1. http://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2009-18959 [Date Accessed: 16 July 2018]
ii European Commission. Spain Care for Dependents. Page 1. http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1129&langId=en&intPageId=4798 [Date Accessed: 16 July 2018]
iii Spain Ministry of Employment and Social Security. (2015). Royal Legislative Decree approving the revised text of the Law on the Workers’ Statute. Page 1. http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_1/Normativa/index.htm?dDocName=095296&C1=1001&C2=2010&C3=3036&C4=4015 [Date Accessed: 16 July 2018]
iv European Commission. Spain – Ordinary, partial and flexible retirement pension. Page 1. http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1129&langId=en&intPageId=4795 [Date Accessed: 16 July 2018]
v Spain Ministry of Employment and Social Security. (2009). Agreement on common accreditation criteria for training and information for non- professional carers. Page 1. http://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2009-18959 [Date Accessed: 16 July 2018]
Ibid.
GL-NONPR-00334 [September 2022]