Edith Kelly Oct 12, 2009:

Eszter Any reason why you selected an answer that is not that suitable as decided by peers ? Not that I mind, just curious.

Veronika Neuhold Oct 7, 2009:

Possible workaround "In Austria, over 50,000 housebound or bedfast elderly people are cared for by family members."

RegineMac Oct 7, 2009:

I see your point, Eszter. Caregivers in the USA could do just everyday tasks like cooking and keeping the person company or do real involved caring, which is why I believe "caring for" covers it.

Also, the synonym for "look after" is "take care of", which brings me back to where I was. Anyway, that's just my 2 cents.

Gudrun Maydorn (X) Oct 7, 2009:

guardian Betreuung could also include the task of being a legal guardian (Betreuer), although I am not sure whether that is meant in this context.

Eszter Bokor (asker) Oct 7, 2009:

I do see a big difference between someone, who simply needs help with cooking and the laundry because s/he is too old to do it and someone, who has to be fed, washed etc. because of age or illness. This is exactly what Gudrun pointed out. I am not sure though whether in English categories or terms like this exist.

RegineMac Oct 7, 2009:

But a caregiver does all these things... I really am not sure how betreuen is so different from pflegen, other than maybe the degree.<br>Read: http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/caring-for-the-elderly... does involve all aspects of care. <br><br>Maybe I'm just stupid, but I look at the word and also its definition (be•treu•en; betreute, hat betreut; [Vt]<br>1. jemanden betreuen auf jemanden aufpassen und für ihn sorgen <Kinder, Kranke betreuen>) and can't see the difference.<br><br>But I guess if it's really important, "looking after and caring for" would work. <br><br>

Gudrun Maydorn (X) Oct 7, 2009:

For lirka Quote: "Well...if "diejenigen, die wirklich Pflegefälle sind" are cared for by their next of kin, they soon will no longer need any care at all..."

Perhaps you are unaware of the definition of Pflegefall in Germany. I am fairly certain that even in our translator's community there will be a number of dedicated colleagues caring for their elderly parents or handicapped children. Pflege includes washing, feeding, nappy changing etc.

Lirka Oct 7, 2009:

i agree with Regine I think that two separate words are used in German just for "linguistic style" and reinforcement. One word would do in English.

RegineMac Oct 7, 2009:

Why not combine the two? I don't see why "to care for" can't be used for the two of them. It has both meanings and I think the two German words are used to make the sentence flow or for emphasis.