Entlastungsdienst Schweiz

What Entlastungsdienst Schweiz does

Entlastungsdienst Schweiz is a non-profit charitable association (gemeinnütziger, parteipolitisch und konfessionell unabhängiger Verein) that provides in-home respite and care services to family caregivers and to people with disabilities, chronic illness, or age-related needs across German-speaking Switzerland. The organization's core offering consists of three service lines — care for children and youth with disabilities, care for adults with illness or disability, and care for seniors — all delivered in the customer's home by fixed primary caregivers (feste Bezugspersonen) to ensure continuity and trust. In 2025 the organization served 1,735 households across 7+ cantons (Aargau, Solothurn, Bern, Zürich, Schaffhausen, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, and German-speaking Freiburg) with 814 caregivers delivering 185,085 care hours across 56,368 deployments.

The business model is a subsidized non-profit service economy. The organization charges per-canton hourly tariffs (CHF 44–64/hour depending on canton, time of day, and emergency status) with income-based tariff reductions for self-pay customers, supplemented by municipal subsidies, cantonal funding, institutional donations, individual giving, legacy gifts, and membership fees. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer registration through regional offices, online self-serve booking for Sofort-Betreuung (24-hour emergency care), and a referral network of social services, hospitals, and healthcare providers. The organization is an active member of the Allianz für gute Betreuung coalition alongside SRK, Pro Infirmis, Alzheimer Bern, Caritas, and Pro Senectute, and co-produces the podcast 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' with five allied NPOs.

Technology is positioned as a workforce-development layer rather than a core service differentiator. The proprietary AI product is Vireo, a text-based learning coach developed with LLMMiy that recognizes caregiver competencies, identifies learning gaps, and issues certificates for acquired skills; Vireo reached the semifinals of the GenAI Zürich Award 2026 in the Impact Achievers category. Operational integrity is supported by Zewo Quality Seal certification (renewed 2024) and a proprietary outcomes study 'Wie Entlastung wirkt' (2024) conducted with research partner Sotomo. The organization is governed by a federal structure of semi-autonomous regional entities (Aargau-Solothurn, Kanton Bern, Kanton Zürich) under a national umbrella, with Denise Strub serving as Präsidentin of the Dachorganisation and Udo Michel as Managing Director of Entlastungsdienst Kanton Bern.

Name

Entlastungsdienst Schweiz

Legal name

Entlastungsdienst Schweiz

Website

https://entlastungsdienst.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Entlastungsdienst Schweiz is a non-profit association providing in-home respite and care services for family caregivers and people with disabilities or age-related needs across seven German-speaking Swiss cantons, delivered by fixed primary caregivers at subsidized hourly tariffs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Home Care and Respite Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Home Respite Care (Hourly/Short-Shift) (HSABAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Respite Care for Adults with Disabilities / Special Needs (HSABAGAI), Respite Care for Families of Children with Disabilities (HSAAAIAL), Respite In-Home Care (Short-Term Relief) (HLADAGAH), Emergency / On-Demand Respite Care (HSABAGAD)

Keywords

• Home care services
• Respite care
• Disability support
• Elderly care
• Family caregiver relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Caregiving Service Fees: Hourly fees for caregiving services provided in customers' homes. Prices vary by canton and range from CHF 44-64 per hour. Emergency/immediate care services command premium rates. Revenue is supplemented by public funding and donations to maintain socially affordable pricing.
2. Donations and Legacies: Private and institutional donations, memorial gifts (Trauerspende), and legacy bequests. Major donors include foundations like Adele Koller-Knüsli Stiftung, Buchmann-Kollbrunner-Stiftung, and corporate donors like Netcloud AG. Donations enable tariff reductions for low-income families.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from collective members (regional associations) and passive/individual members. Supports the umbrella organization's operations and advocacy work.
4. Public Funding: Subsidies from cantonal governments and municipalities for caregiving services. Some municipalities (Lyss, Wohlen, Meikirch) have service agreements providing additional financial support for residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Entlastungsdienst Schweiz provides in-home respite and care services to families in Switzerland caring for relatives with disabilities, chronic illness, or age-related needs. Services are delivered by approximately 500 trained caregivers who are assigned as fixed primary contacts (Bezugspersonen) to ensure continuity, trust, and consistent care relationships in the family's familiar home environment.

Product overview

Entlastungsdienst Schweiz is a non-profit home care service organization operating across multiple Swiss cantons. The core offering consists of three main care service lines for children/youth with disabilities, adults with illness/disabilities, and seniors—with all services provided by fixed contact persons (feste Bezugspersonen) in the familiar home environment. The organization operates on a modular platform model where the three core care services form the foundation, supplemented by immediate/emergency care modules (Sofort-Betreuung/SOS-Betreuung), an AI-powered learning coach (Vireo), a caregiver podcast, and structured continuing education programs. Services are priced per canton with tariff reduction options for lower-income households. The Vireo AI learning coach represents a technology-enabled extension supporting caregiver training and competency development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Betreuung für Kinder & Jugendliche mit Behinderung oder Krankheit (Care for Children & Youth with Disability or Illness)

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,735 households served, 56,368 deployments, 185,085 care hours delivered (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tag der KrankenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Annual national awareness day for people with illness or disability. Entlastungsdienst Schweiz is a member promoting self-determined living and social inclusion.
• LLMMiycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development partnership for AI learning coach Vireo. Joint creation of innovative learning tool for caregivers, making practice-oriented training accessible in daily work.
• Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung Kanton ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-producer of podcast 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' addressing caregiving challenges and moments of joy.
• Pro Senectute Kanton ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-producer of podcast 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' on caregiving topics.
• Alzheimer ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-producer of podcast 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' addressing dementia caregiving.
• Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz Kanton ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-producer of podcast 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' and member of Allianz für gute Betreuung.
• Spitex Verband Kanton ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-producer of podcast 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' on home care topics.
• Pro Infirmis ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-producer of podcast 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' and member of Allianz für gute Betreuung.
• Allianz für gute BetreuungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Alliance of leading Bern NPOs including Entlastungsdienst, SRK, Pro Infirmis, Alzheimer Bern, Caritas, Pro Senectute working to improve care standards and share knowledge.
• ArtisetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Foundation providing groundwork for new educational formats in psychosocial care that informed Vireo development.
• Paul Schiller StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Foundation that produced important foundations for new educational formats in psychosocial care, supporting Vireo development.
• deinAdieu.chminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership enabling customers to create legally valid wills including provisions for Entlastungsdienst. Offers free legal consultation.
• Büro für FeminismusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-organizer of 2025 national conference 'Sorge tragen: Betreuung als Wirtschaftsfaktor'.
• Entlastungsdienst OstschweizminorOthers · 1 January 2025Passive member of umbrella organization.
• Insieme Cerebral GraubündenminorOthers · 1 January 2025Passive member of umbrella organization.
• Insieme InnerschwyzminorOthers · 1 January 2025Passive member of umbrella organization.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Insieme Schweiz: Swiss association for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Directly comparable mission (respite and family relief for the disability community) and a passive member of Entlastungsdienst Schweiz's umbrella organization.
• Spitex Schweiz: National association for Swiss home care (Spitex) providers, which deliver in-home nursing and personal care services across cantons. Directly comparable delivery model (in-home hourly care) and overlapping client base (elderly, chronically ill, post-hospital).
• Pro Senectute: Switzerland's largest specialist organization for elderly care and aging-in-place services. Comparable target population (seniors and family caregivers), overlapping service mix (home-based support, respite), and direct co-production partnership on Entlastungsdienst's podcast.
• Alzheimer Schweiz: Swiss national organization addressing dementia care and supporting affected families. Overlaps on the senior/dementia segment and is a co-production partner on Entlastungsdienst's podcast addressing dementia caregiving.
• Pro Infirmis: Leading Swiss organization for people with disabilities, providing advice, supported living, and family services. Directly comparable on the disability segment and an explicit alliance partner of Entlastungsdienst.

Broad incumbents

• Curaviva: Swiss industry association for inpatient and outpatient care providers (elderly, disability). Comparable in mission (care standards, advocacy) but with a stronger residential-care focus, making it a broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
• Tertianum: Largest private Swiss provider of senior living and care services, with home-care offerings. Comparable on senior care services but operates a for-profit, residential-anchored model versus Entlastungsdienst's nonprofit in-home model.
• Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz (SRK): Swiss Red Cross operates cantonal home-care and family-relief programs that overlap with Entlastungsdienst's mission. A co-production partner on 'Das kleine Glück schätzen' podcast and a member of the Allianz für gute Betreuung.

Emerging players

• Senevita: Swiss private operator of senior residences and home-care services. Comparable on in-home senior care but smaller and more regionally concentrated; represents the private-sector model that competes for the same self-pay segment.
• Familienhilfe Schweiz (Caritas): Swiss family relief and home-help services run by Caritas, providing household and care support to families. Comparable on the family-caregiver segment and the non-medical home-support delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@entlastungsdienstschweiz9093?si=TU63SeBFea8fUd0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/entlastungsdienst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/entlastungsdienst-schweiz
• Instagraminstagram.com/entlastungsdienst_schweiz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Entlastungsdienst Schweiz