FAQ - frequently asked questions

and Dr. med. Johannes Pichler All content is checked by medical journalists.

There are a number of questions about age and care that many people ask themselves. has summarized and answered the most important ones - the overview

• What has changed with the Nursing Reorientation Act 2012 and the First Nursing Strengthening Act 2015 for people with dementia at care level 0?

The services for people with significantly limited everyday skills in the outpatient area have been improved. This applies, for example, to people with dementia, the mentally handicapped and the mentally ill. This also applies to people with significantly restricted everyday skills who have not yet reached one of the care levels (care level 0).

Affected people who are cared for by relatives now receive a care allowance of 123 euros per month. If a nursing service takes over the care instead, the nursing care fund provides 231 euros per month for this.

In addition to this basic amount, there are benefits for care aids amounting to 40 euros per month.

• What will change for people in need of care of care level I?

People in need of care in care level I who are cared for at home by their relatives receive 244 euros. If you also suffer from dementia, EUR 316 per month is provided. If the patients are cared for by an outpatient nursing service, the amount increases to 468 or 689 euros.

• What will change for level II care recipients?

In care level II, the amount has risen to 458 euros or 545 euros if the relatives look after those in need of care. If this is done by an outpatient nursing service, the amount has increased to 1,144 or 1,298 euros.

• What will level III care recipients receive?

Both demented and non-demented care needs of care level III receive 728 euros if they are cared for by relatives and 1,612 euros if they are cared for by outpatient nursing staff. In the event of hardship, the amount can increase to 1,995 euros.

• Is help and support in home care also financed?

Since 2013, people in need of care and dementia have been able to take advantage of the previous services for basic care and household care as well as home care as a care benefit in kind. This includes help and supervision in the home environment as well as activities to organize everyday life. This also applies to people with dementia who are not assigned to any of the three care levels (care level 0).

• Do I have to pay for the care costs of my in-laws?

Under certain conditions, not only the children have to pay for the parents, but also their spouses for the home costs of the in-laws. Particularly in the case of high-income families, part of the assets that go beyond adequate family support can be claimed for parent support - also for the in-laws.

• Can I take care of my relatives at home and still work?

Partly inpatient facilities care for elderly and needy people for up to eight hours a day. A special transport service picks up those in need of care and brings them home in the evening. In this way, they can stay at home even if relatives cannot take care of them during the day. The (still existing) physical and mental abilities of the day care guests are maintained and improved through the psychosocial care. Contact with other people prevents loneliness and isolation. Long-term care insurance covers part of the costs, depending on the level of care.

• What happens if I take care of my relatives at home and fall ill myself or want to go on vacation?

If you are temporarily unable to continue outpatient care due to illness, vacation or other reasons, the long-term care insurance can cover the costs of necessary replacement care for a maximum of six weeks per year. This is called preventive care. For this purpose, 1,612 euros are available annually regardless of the care level. This amount can be topped up with funds that are earmarked for short-term care - by a maximum of 806 euros (50 percent of the short-term care rate). It is important that you have been caring for the person for at least six months.

• What does short-term care include?

Full inpatient short-term care of up to eight weeks a year enables people who are only dependent on such care for a limited period of time. The long-term care insurance covers the costs up to an amount of 1,612 euros for four or a maximum of 3,224 euros for eight weeks per year. Half of this can add to the cost of replacement care.

• What options are available in day and night care day and night care?

Partly inpatient day and night care also relieve the burden on family carers. The costs are now also covered for dementia patients on care level 0 (231 euros). For care level I, the care fund pays EUR 468 for those without dementia and EUR 689 for those in need of care with dementia. In care level II, the amount increases to 1,144 or 1,298 euros and to 1,612 euros in care level III.

• Can each family member take care of the home?

In principle, anyone can take care of their relatives. However, good care is not an easy matter. Many caring relatives are initially helpless and fearful of this new task. For this reason, long-term care insurance companies or charities offer free courses. Here you not only learn how to properly care for the person in need of care, but also receive tips on how to lift, for example, without straining your back. In some cases, specialists come to the apartment for instruction, for example when it comes to the correct use of aids.

• Can I bring pets into the retirement home?

The ability to stay with your own pet can make it easier for older people to move to a retirement home. The home carrier decides whether the keeping of animals is permitted. However, many nursing homes today welcome pets, as animals contribute to increasing the mental health and quality of life of older people as well. Therefore, ask in different homes.

• Are there statutory provisions for assisted living facilities?

There is no legally protected term "assisted living" and also no regulations as to which standards have to be met for the home or care. Likewise, there is no control authority that monitors compliance with such standards, as is provided, for example, by the home supervisory authority for home facilities. Therefore, you should compare different offers before deciding on a residential complex.

• Do I have to take out long-term care insurance as well?

Statutory long-term care insurance is compulsory, just like statutory health insurance. All people who have statutory health insurance in Germany are automatically insured for long-term care.

The private long-term care insurance is also a compulsory insurance, which is usually applied for with the private health insurance. You can voluntarily take out private supplementary long-term care insurance - regardless of whether you have private or statutory insurance.

• What is meant by the need for long-term care?

In simple terms, one can say: In need of care is anyone who can no longer cope with simple, everyday things such as washing, brushing teeth, cooking and cleaning on their own. However, this restriction in the regularly recurring activities of daily life must be permanent, i.e. it must exist for at least six months. Anyone who needs regular medical assistance is also in need of care.

• How do I get benefits from long-term care insurance?

First you have to submit an application to the responsible long-term care insurance. As a rule, this is the person's health insurance. She sends her medical service (Medicproof or Medical Service of the Health Insurance Funds = MDK) to the home of the person in need of care. He carries out an in-depth examination and classifies the person in need of care into a certain level of care.

Based on this report, the care fund will make a decision and send you a care certificate. If you do not agree, you can file an objection. If you accept the care certificate, you have to decide how the care should look like.

• What is basic care?

Basic care in the sense of long-term care insurance includes in the area of ​​personal hygiene: washing, showering, bathing, dental care, combing, shaving and emptying the bowel or bladder. In the area of ​​nutrition, there is also the bite-sized preparation of food and the intake of food. Mobility includes getting up and going to bed, getting dressed and undressing, walking, climbing stairs as well as leaving and going back to the apartment.

• How can I apply for a higher classification from the long-term care insurance?

You can write to the long-term care insurance and submit an informal application for upgrading. The medical service (Medicproof or MDK) carries out the assessment and will decide on the level of care. There are some peculiarities when classifying people with dementia.

• What is a care diary?

A care diary is used to record the home care services that a private caregiver provides for a person in need of care. This care diary is intended to help you achieve the correct classification in long-term care insurance. Health insurance companies and charities offer appropriate forms.

• What do I do if my relative is no longer sane?

Anyone who notices that a person is no longer legally competent can apply for care. The guardianship court checks whether the requirements for legal support are met. Before doing this, however, a neurologist should be consulted to see whether there is a treatable reason for the mental impairment (e.g. encephalitis, acute vitamin deficiency or a stroke).

• Can I go on vacation with my demented relative?

Holiday offers that are specially tailored to the needs of dementia patients and their relatives have been increasingly created in recent years. Most of these offers are organized by regional and local Alzheimer's societies, but there are also other providers. Long-term care insurance covers part of the care and support costs during the vacation. You can obtain information from the German Alzheimer's Society.

• Does the living will have to be certified by the notary?

Two people should testify to the author's will with their signature on the living will. Notarization or certification by a notary is possible, but not required.

• What is the care TÜV?

The care TÜV is intended to increase the quality and transparency of care. The Medical Service of the Health Insurance (MDK) or Medicproof check the inpatient care facilities and outpatient care providers without notice and according to certain criteria. The results must be published, there are grades from 1 to 5.

Tags:  Menstruation symptoms prevention