Everyday support

In your canton
Mobility
Loneliness
Families
Integration
More

What if the Red Cross could make your day-to-day life easier? Discover the range of advisory and support services we provide locally for all sorts of difficult circumstances. We can help you live the most independent life possible.

Where can I get help?

Even in Switzerland, life is full of challenges. You might be elderly or sick. You might have children to look after, or a relative. Perhaps you’re from another country. These are circumstances that can easily overwhelm you. But there are solutions.

Find out what your cantonal association offers

The Swiss Red Cross has 24 cantonal associations. They all offer different types of support services. Visit your cantonal association’s website to find out more about the services available to you locally:

Examples

Below are examples of services provided by the Swiss Red Cross. You can ask your cantonal association if the service you need is available where you live.
If it is not available, your cantonal association will be able to direct you to a similar provider or suggest other types of support.

Driver service

A volunteer driver holds the arm of a man with reduced mobility in front of a SRC vehicle. They smile at each other.

Do you have reduced mobility due to old age or a disability? Do you need someone to go with you to your doctor’s appointments? Do you need to be driven there? A volunteer, with an adapted vehicle if necessary, can take you where you need to go.

There is a charge for this service. Contact your cantonal association to find out more or book a driver:

Home visit and assistance service

Is loneliness getting you down? Would you like more social contact or someone to go with you to a doctor’s appointment? You can ask the Red Cross’ home visit and assistance service to send a volunteer around for a chat over a cup of tea or to go out for a walk with you if you prefer.

This service is provided for elderly people by the following cantonal associations:

Respite for family carers

You can easily be overwhelmed by stress when looking after an elderly or sick family member. We can advise you and provide you with some respite by looking after them while you rest.

Integration

A young woman and a young man of different origins cook together.

Limited financial means or the fact that you come from a foreign country should not stop you from playing a full role in society. In some cantons, the Red Cross can help.

Help with integration can take the form of language courses, job placements for young adults or financial assistance.

If your canton is listed below, the Red Cross offers some integration services in your area.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy can help improve your quality of life after an accident or long illness. A therapist will help adapt your life, home or workspace so that you can be more independent.

This includes empowering you to wash yourself, do housework, find a job, or find suitable leisure activities. You may require assistive devices or other technical solutions. The people around you can also ask for advice.

A patient puts flowers in a vase with the help of a therapist.

A woman hugs her mother. The two women smile and seem relaxed.

Red Cross SOS service

If you have fallen over, you just need to press the alarm button to connect to our SOS call centre. A relative is also alerted.

Three generations of the same family balance on a tree trunk.

Living will

Deciding in advance how you want to be cared for in the event of cognitive impairment is one less thing to worry about. It also relieves the burden on your family.

Red Cross course

Learning to help yourself

Sometimes, the best support is what you give yourself. Red Cross coursesOpens a new window teach you to take care of yourself and others.