Last week, the VRT documentary Onzichtbare zorg (“Invisible care”) put young carers in the spotlight. For families caring for a parent, it raises a familiar question too. Who notices when caring for one person becomes too much?
On 4 November, Pano showed how much responsibility some young people take on at home when a family member has a long-term illness or a disability. According to the programme, more than a quarter of Flemish young people aged 11 to 18 live in such a family. Some of them also take on caring tasks, often unseen by those around them.
When helping slowly becomes a second diary
Caring for a parent often starts with something small. You do the shopping on Saturday or go along to an appointment. Later, you also drop by in the evening to check whether your mother has eaten. When your father is less mobile after a fall, you keep your phone within reach at night as well.
Each task on its own seems manageable. Only when you want to go away for a weekend, or fall ill yourself, do you notice how much depends on your being there.
What kind of help makes living at home possible?
Start with an ordinary week. At what times does your parent need someone? Who can cover those moments? And which tasks would you like to keep doing, because they give you something too? Perhaps you enjoy cooking on Sundays, but the daily evening visit is hard to combine with your work or family. That distinction helps you choose support that suits your parent and your own life.
When your parent needs help or company at different times of the day, live-in care can be an option. At Private Care, we listen to your parent’s habits and wishes. From there, we look for a care assistant who suits the person and the rhythm of the home. That way, there is room again to simply have a coffee together.
Would you like to know whether live-in care suits your family? Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
What prompted this article — VRT NWS Pano, Onzichtbare zorg, 4 November 2026