Long-term care strengthening law - this is new

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001.In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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A lot has happened in nursing since January 1, 2015 - the benefits have increased and become more flexible. The most important changes at a glance.

The people in Germany are getting older and older. The number of men and women in need of care is increasing accordingly. According to the Federal Statistical Office, there were 2.5 million in 2011. Fortunately, 70 percent of those affected were cared for within their own four walls. Most of the people in need of care are cared for by their relatives - alone or with the support of home care services.

The state wants to improve nursing care in two stages. The First Care Strengthening Act came into force on January 1, 2015. This means that the benefits for people in need of care and their relatives have already been noticeably expanded. For home care alone, 1.4 billion euros more are now available.

One of the main goals is to take more of the strain off caregiving relatives. For this reason, not only are the services increased, they can also be used more flexibly. In this way, the individual situation of those in need of care and their relatives is better taken into account. In particular, dementia patients without a care level receive more benefits than before.

The changes at a glance:

Short-term care - temporary care: Accommodation in inpatient care facilities is often only necessary for a certain period of time - for example after a hospital stay. As a rule, the long-term care insurance fund finances four weeks of short-term care per year in the amount of 1612 euros.

However, if the caring relatives have not fully exhausted their entitlement to preventive care, the short-term care can be topped up with the money provided. A maximum of eight weeks of short-term care can be financed with a total of 3224 euros.

Preventive care - time out for carers: Caring is exhausting. Caregiving relatives also need regular breaks. And of course they get sick themselves from time to time. In this case, for example, outpatient care services step in as part of preventive care. Six weeks a year instead of the previous four and a total of 1612 euros are now available.

This amount can be topped up with 50 percent of the money provided for short-term care (806 euros) if this is not used. That makes a total of 2,418 euros.

Partly inpatient day and night care: It is not always possible for relatives to take care of care around the clock - for example if they are employed themselves. In this case, the patients can be cared for in special facilities. Unlike in the past, this care is not counted towards the care allowance and outpatient care, but paid independently of them. Depending on the level of care, that adds up to between 231 and 1,612 euros.

Additional relief - low-threshold care offers: As part of the "low-threshold care", recognized voluntary helpers look after people who are particularly in need of help. They advise and relieve the caring relatives on a daily or hourly basis. 104 euros per month are now available for this (in exceptional cases also 208 euros). And not just like dementia patients before, but also physically handicapped people who need intensive care.

In addition, those who do not fully utilize their entitlement to outpatient care benefits in kind can use up to 40 percent of the amount provided for low-threshold care offers.

More help for people with dementia: Patients who are severely restricted in their everyday skills, but not physically impaired or only slightly impaired, receive care level 0. Up to now, their entitlement to benefits has been limited, although their care can be very complex. With the First Care Strengthening Act, they are now entitled for the first time to day and night care benefits for short-term care as well as the surcharge for outpatient care groups.

Subsidies for care aids: bed protection pads, incontinence material, disposable gloves - care aids that are used in everyday life are now subsidized with up to 40 euros per month.

Higher subsidies for renovation measures: So that people in need of care can stay at home, complex renovation measures are often necessary, such as wheelchair ramps, widened doors or walk-in showers. Since January 1, 2015, they have been subsidized much more generously than before with 4,000 euros per measure. If several people in need of care live in the same apartment, the amount can be increased to up to 16,000 euros per measure.

Care flat shares - support for new forms of living: If at least three people in need of care join together to form a shared apartment with outpatient care, they can claim start-up funding of 2,500 euros per person (or a maximum of 10,000 euros). In addition, there is a monthly group surcharge of 205 euros per month.

Advice for caring relatives: Those who care for their relatives are entitled to care advice. The offer is made automatically as soon as someone applies for the corresponding services.

Wage replacement for family caregivers: Anyone who has to organize care for a family member at short notice - for example after a stroke - can claim a wage replacement benefit over a period of ten days. The payments are comparable to the children's sickness benefit that parents receive in the event of a sick child.

Improvements in inpatient care: In the future, one billion euros more than previously has been earmarked for inpatient care facilities. In particular, this is intended to increase the number of nursing staff from the current 25,000 to 45,000.

Second Act to Strengthen Long-Term Care

The Second Act on the Strengthening of Long-term Care is to come into force on 1.1.2017. This redefines the concept of need for long-term care and introduces a new assessment procedure. In particular, a distinction should no longer be made between people in need of care with physical impairments on the one hand and those with mental and psychological impairments (especially dementia) on the other. The focus is then on the individual needs of the individual. Six areas, which include possible physical, mental and psychological limitations, are used for assessment:

1. mobility
2. cognitive and communication skills
3. Behaviors and psychological problems
4. Self-sufficiency
5. Coping with and independent handling of illness or therapy-related demands and stresses
6. Design of everyday life and social contacts

The number of care levels will be increased by one more in 2017 - this makes the classification more precise. The prerequisites for this are to be created in 2016. In particular, the framework agreements of the federal states must be adapted accordingly. The providers of the care facilities must adjust their personnel key accordingly and agree new care rates with the care homes by September 30, 2016.

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