Documentary on caregivers: 7 million people provide home care without legal protection

In Italy, over 7 million people serve as informal caregivers, caring for sick, disabled, or elderly family members at home. The statistics are relentless: about 75% of this group are women. They most often take on the responsibilities of continuous care, balancing them with professional life and their own needs. The role of the younger generation is also significant – 42% of young people care for their grandparents, and 30% for their parents, illustrating the phenomenon of the "sandwich generation" and an aging society. Italy is among the countries with one of the highest rates of population aging in Europe, coupled with a deeply rooted family care model where the state care system often fails to keep up with needs. Despite these invisible caregivers being an indispensable pillar of the national welfare, their legal status remains unregulated. Marina Panfilo, director of Fondazione MSD, highlighted this paradox during the presentation of the documentary "Parole in cerca d'autore" in Rome: "This is a figure long considered a resource of our system, but unfortunately, there are still no regulations to protect it." The documentary, directed by Donatella Romani and Roberto Amato and produced with the support of Fondazione MSD, aims to break this social silence. The film, available from February 26 on Amazon Prime Video, consists of a mosaic of over ten stories. It shows not only the hardships and challenges – such as burnout, administrative barriers, and feelings of loneliness – but also the deep dedication and love underlying this role. One of the figures is the frontman of the band Elio e le Storie Tese, father of an autistic son, who shares his experience in the film, stating: "Caring for others actually means caring for oneself. It's almost an act of selfishness." Although the film strives to give a voice to millions of caregivers, real change in their situation still depends on lawmakers. The lack of comprehensive legislation for caregivers means they have no right to leave, financial support, training, or pension security. The documentary, while an important voice in the discussion, does not itself solve the systemic problem. Its premiere coincides with growing societal awareness of the need for formal recognition of this group, which may put pressure on politicians.