Due to demographic change, younger people between the ages of 18 and 30 are increasingly taking on the care of older relatives or acquaintances. But how can care work be reconciled with studies or an apprenticeship and what potential does it have? The international research project "InterCare" deals with these questions. The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) is participating in the research project alongside other universities from Poland, Germany and the UK. The Volkswagen Foundation is sponsoring "InterCare" with 1.3 million euros, of which 315,000 euros will go to the HSNR.

Over the next four years, the project partners want to research the potential of intergenerational care services. "We are very pleased to be researching this group in more detail in three countries - England, Poland and Germany - using different methodological approaches. We also hope to develop ideas on how we can better support younger people who are going to school or studying and caring for relatives or acquaintances at the same time," says Dr. Moritz Heß, Professor of Gerontology at the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at HSNR.

The partners also want to raise awareness of the situation of young carers by drawing attention to the challenges and potential of intergenerational care. Intergenerational care can have a positive effect on the relationship between younger and older people and strengthen the relationship. On the other hand, the additional burden of caregiving alongside the academic apprenticeship can lead to stress, time constraints and mental and physical health problems.

In addition, a European research network is to be created as part of the research, which will equip young scientists with the necessary methodological expertise in the field of research on intergenerational relationships.