Working conditions for caregivers of older people vary widely across Europe — from the system, funding, and equipment to the cultural attitude toward old age and the role of the family. Collected accounts and reports show that the same profession can look completely different depending on the country. Below we compare the most important observations.
In Sweden, the state provides caregivers with full technical support: patient lifts, specialized beds, and fast equipment servicing. Work is strictly regulated by the hour, and standards for treating residents are high — raising your voice at a patient can lead to immediate dismissal. At the same time, in Swedish culture families less often care for their elderly parents themselves. In Belgium, placing a senior in a care home is often seen as a natural step and the right of a citizen who has paid taxes for years. Families visit their loved ones frequently, and facilities offer a rich program of activities.
In Italy, the work of a caregiver — the so-called badante — often comes with a lack of privacy. There may be an expectation of round-the-clock availability, and sometimes even sleeping in the same room as the person being cared for. Caregivers are sometimes left to cope alone — some families cut themselves off from care almost entirely, failing to react even to serious signs such as bedsores. As a result, the burden of care rests mainly on the shoulders of hired, often poorly paid staff from abroad.
In France, working in specialized facilities requires certificates and training. Among the hardest tasks are caring for people with dementia, who can be aggressive, and coping with the death of those in one’s care. In the United Kingdom, the care sector faces a serious staffing crisis after Brexit. Facilities offer solid training from scratch and flexible schedules, but because of staff shortages the daily work can be very demanding.
The biggest differences lie in how each society views old age. In Belgium and the United Kingdom, living in a care home is widely accepted and well organized. In Sweden, despite an efficient system, older people can be lonely and distant from their families. In Italy, relatives rarely take on the care of seniors — responsibility is shifted almost entirely onto paid caregivers. These differences show that the quality of care is not only a matter of systems and money, but also of culture and the presence of family.
For caregivers, this means it is worth researching conditions, support, and expectations before choosing a country to work in. OPK.CARE helps caregivers find fair job offers and prepare for work abroad, and helps families choose the right form of care for their loved ones — because good working conditions for caregivers translate directly into the comfort and safety of seniors.
July 14, 2026
