Caring within the family: know your rights to provide better care

There is no doubt that the advances achieved by science and medicine constitute the primary cause of the increase in life expectancy.

As a counterpart to this undeniable success of humanity—we have never lived so long and in increasingly optimal conditions—there is a greater probability of suffering from an age-related degenerative disease. At the same time, other illnesses that in the past were inevitably fatal, with appropriate treatment have become chronic, with certain limitations on daily life that worsen over time.

The deterioration of physical and cognitive abilities affects older people, individuals with chronic illnesses, and people with disabilities. In the latter two cases, this is often associated with premature aging, which frequently coincides with that of their parents.

In Spain, the family continues to be the usual setting for the care and support of vulnerable people. Typically, it is a daughter who assumes this role, although it is also common for a son or even a spouse to do so.

The family caregiver is an essential figure for several reasons: their full-time dedication saves resources for the State, prolongs the dependent person’s stay in their own home without leaving their familiar environment, and prevents institutionalization, with an evident improvement in their well-being.

Family caregivers face the burden of care alone, without training or prior knowledge, addressing situations as they arise. They are a hidden figure who needs to be made visible and valued by society.

Recognition and support for those who take on the care of a vulnerable family member are essential and must be approached from a place of affection, providing them with appropriate accompaniment in all circumstances and from all disciplines. This includes offering knowledge, behavioral guidelines, and continuous advice, helping to avoid the loneliness and stress that come from facing new, unfamiliar situations every day that are difficult to resolve.

It is essential for caregivers to be aware of the tools and resources available for managing care in the personal, financial, and family spheres.

It is appropriate and advisable for everyone to acquire basic notions of preventive law concepts and legal instruments that help us anticipate how we wish to be cared for, by establishing appropriate provisions regarding personal care and the management of assets. This includes choosing our legal representative, avoiding mistakes due to lack of knowledge, preventing conflicts by anticipating potential problems, and determining the disposition of our estate by selecting testamentary provisions appropriate to each situation.

The law accompanies us throughout our lives, and its knowledge is essential to ensure, in the context addressed here, the well-being of the family member in need of care, the caregiver, and the surrounding environment.
It is necessary to ensure that everything is in order and that the wishes of the vulnerable person are fulfilled, as well as to be aware of the moment when professional assistance becomes necessary.

In this regard, the dissemination of legal knowledge through educational initiatives is highly valuable, conveying basic legal concepts that help individuals understand their rights and claim their enforcement in cases of violation.
This is the objective of the course Caring within the Family. Know Your Rights to Provide Better Care, which will be held at the headquarters of Fundación Ávila, at the Palacio de los Serranos. The course will take place from April to June 2026, in the incomparable setting of this World Heritage city.

Course participants will acquire the necessary skills to address the care of a vulnerable person, as well as to anticipate their own future vulnerability, with the legal certainty required to ensure that care is properly provided.

Registration has been open since December 12, 2025. Information is available at www.fundacionavila.es and at cursos@fundacionavila.es.