Abstract
The article is based on presumptions that deinstitutionalisation and maximum prolonging of independent living in homes thanks to home and family lay care have multiple positive impacts on individuals and societies. A quantitative survey mapping attitudes and experiences of family members who provide daily care to family members has been conducted in a sample of 200 persons.
Results show that "labour of love" integrating the care with emotional relation between carers and beneficiaries is the core reason for more than 50% of the caregivers. Financial problems, risk of losing jobs, and a progressive deterioration of health of the person in care emerged as key risk factors, but overall, the determination among carers to continue providing care "at any price" was high.
A greater flexibility/diversity in the scope of services has been identified as the primary factor promoting the long-term care in households, similarly to a growing need for a coordinated support involving local communities and services, e.g. general practitioners. The caring potentials of families exist but they must be better synchronised with community and public or private services that will be responsive to various needs of families.