Why Czechs are being encouraged to wear slippers to work next week

People across Czechia are being encouraged to swap their usual shoes for slippers on Wednesday, Oct. 14, as part of a nationwide campaign supporting home-based hospice care.

Known as Papučový den, or Slipper Day, the annual initiative invites people to wear slippers to work, school, or even the supermarket to raise awareness of families caring for seriously ill relatives at home.

The event is part of the monthlong Dožít doma (To Live Out Life at Home) campaign, coordinated by the Czech Forum of Mobile Hospices, which represents organizations providing specialized end-of-life care in patients' homes.

The campaign uses slippers as a simple symbol of home, highlighting the importance of familiar surroundings, family contact, and dignity for people approaching the end of life.

This year's event comes alongside new research suggesting that most Czech adults would prefer home-based care over institutional care for someone who becomes dependent on assistance.

According to a survey conducted by research agency FOCUS for healthcare company HARTMANN–RICO, 64 percent of Czech adults consider home care the better option, compared with 36 percent who favor a specialized facility.

Among respondents who already have someone requiring assistance in their household or close family, support for home care rises to 81 percent.

The survey, conducted in June 2026 among 1,077 adults, also explored why people favor remaining at home. Of those who preferred home care, 76 percent cited familiar surroundings, 69 percent said it was psychologically more comfortable, and 63 percent valued regular contact with family.

However, the findings reflect personal preferences rather than the availability or suitability of home-based care, which depends on individual medical needs and family circumstances.

Participation is straightforward: on Oct. 14, people can wear slippers wherever they normally spend their day, whether that's an office, classroom, shop, or their own home.

Participants are also encouraged to share photographs on social media using #papucovyden and tagging @dozitdoma, helping spread awareness of the campaign and the families it supports.

The initiative forms part of a wider October awareness campaign involving nearly 50 mobile hospices across Czechia.

Mobile hospice teams provide specialized care to seriously ill patients in their homes, allowing families to spend time together in familiar surroundings while receiving professional support.

The campaign's website dozitdoma.cz provides information about participating hospices, related events, and practical resources for families considering home-based end-of-life care.

For international residents unfamiliar with the Czech initiative, Oct. 14 offers an opportunity to participate in a local tradition while supporting a serious cause — simply by wearing a pair of slippers.