Care inside your familiar home

Many people want to stay in their familiar environment for as long as possible, even if they need care. Fortunately, there are many services to help you structure your care, everyday life and the use of assistive devices.

Who is in need of care?

Nursing care insurance supports people who have had a hard time managing their everyday lives independently for more than six months–”for example, due to illness or disability. This coverage requires that an application is submitted to the nursing care insurance, who, in turn, commissions the medical service of the health insurance (MDK) with the evaluation: The MDK determines the required level of long-term care during a home visit based on defined criteria.

Elien Dumon
© Elien Dumon

Who should provide care: relatives or a nursing service? 

If a need for care has been established, relatives, friends or an outpatient nursing service can provide at-home care. Take your time making your selection, because trust is important. We will gladly provide you with information about daycare options, overnight care or 24-hour care. We also offer advice on the possibilities of preventive care or short-term care if caring relatives or friends are temporarily unavailable. And if no level of care is determined? We will advise you on alternative care options.

What resources are available?

For home care, there are many tools that make life easier: Ask us about aids such as incontinence aids, walkers or wheelchairs and find out more about healthcare products such as emergency call systems, nursing beds or shower seats.

1 – Home Care

Anyone needing nursing care does not necessarily have to receive it in a hospital setting, for example, in a clinic. In many cases, these treatments can also be received in the home environment via outpatient care services. The legal basis...

Read more Fact sheet no. 1 (193 KB)
2 – Criteria for need for care

People who are limited in their abilities and independence because of a physical, mental or emotional illness are considered to be in need of care. If the need for care is likely to last longer than six months, they can...

Read more Fact sheet no. 2 (352 KB)
5 – Choosing a Nursing Care Service

You can choose from a variety of home nursing care service providers to provide assistance with hygiene, household duties and supervision. There are also nursing care services that have special offers such as care for young nursing patients or patients...

Read more Fact sheet no. 5 (121 KB)
6 – Household help

Many people need help with shopping, cooking or with cleaning living spaces. On request, the medical insurance company will cover the costs for household help due to serious illness, particularly after a hospital stay. (See information sheet no. 1 Home...

Read more Fact sheet no. 6 (37 KB)
8 – Respite Care –“ Short-term Care

Domestic care when the care provider is unavailable (respite care) When a private caregiver is unavailable due to holidays, sickness or for other reasons prevented to perform care, the nursing care insurance covers the costs of the required substitute care...

Read more Fact sheet no. 8 (215 KB)
9 – Outpatient care

People who are in need of care have the option to be cared for outside of the family for part of the day. In this case, day-patient care can be provided. The right to day-patient care is not limited in...

Read more Fact sheet no. 9 (175 KB)
17 – For the use of certain care aids

For the use of certain care aids intended for general hygiene, the protection of caregivers and which simplifies care giving. Generally, due to the material properties or for hygienic reasons, they can be used only once. Which aids are available...

Read more Fact sheet no. 17 (221 KB)
18 – Aids and Nursing Care Products

Aids are objects which compensate for physical impairments. There is a difference between aids and nursing care products. The cost for aids is covered in full or in part by the health insurance fund in order to support a medical...

Read more Fact sheet no. 18 (221 KB)
31 – Assessment giudelines – required level of care

When care needs are evaluated, a person’s independence is evaluated in six aspects of their life (modules) Module 1: Mobility Module 2: cognitive und communicative abilities Module 3: Behaviour patterns and problematic mental areas Module 4: Looking after oneself Module...

Read more Fact sheet no. 31 (332 KB)
32 – Social Security for Caregivers

Through the Care Insurance Act (§ 44 SGB XI), options for social security protection of caregivers has been created: Pension insurance scheme Many people can pursue only in a limited capacity or no longer pursue their jobs due to the...

Read more Fact sheet no. 32 (144 KB)
33 – Laws regarding reconciliation of nursing care and working life

If close family members want to care for a person in need of care for a certain period, they have the opportunity to seek leave of absence from work. Under the law to improve reconciliation of work and care there...

Read more Fact sheet no. 33 (28 KB)
34 – Maintenance obligation of children towards parents in need of care (help with care)

If the costs for nursing care exceed the income of a person in need of nursing care, he or she can get what is known as help with care from the social welfare office. As soon as the social welfare...

Read more Fact sheet no. 34 (268 KB)
36 – Payments for outpatient care 2022 Read more Fact sheet no. 36 (167 KB)
37 – Assistance for nursing care from the district authorities

Persons who need care because of their health status, but do not have the necessary funds to pay for the care (because no entitlement to care insurance benefits exists or because the benefits of the care fund are not sufficient),...

Read more Fact sheet no. 37 (122 KB)
40 – Travel – respite and recovery

For persons in need of help and care and their relatives Travel is fun and increases the joy of life, often far beyond the holiday period itself. Mobility impaired people, those diagnosed with dementia or parents with children in need...

Read more Fact sheet no. 40 (264 KB)
41 – 24 – hour nursing care and supervision at home

Many persons in need of care want   / or require 24-hour care in their home. Often, however, this exceeds the mental and physical capabilities of the relatives. The following options are available as full-time care and care can be organized...

Read more Fact sheet no. 41 (142 KB)