More benefits through the law on the strengthening of long-term care. Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society offers tips about home health care and other related stories!
For relatives, caring for a relative means a deep cut in their previous lifestyle. Round-the-clock care alone is hardly possible. It is therefore essential to call in help from outside. In addition to the financial benefits from the state nursing care insurance, there is also an offer of support for everyday nursing care at home. With the Care Strengthening Act, caregiving relatives receive more support if they are ill themselves or want to go on holiday. In such cases, they can now take six weeks – instead of the previous four weeks – for a replacement. Up to EUR 1,612 per year is available for so-called preventive care. In addition, up to 50 percent of the short-term care amount can be used as home care in the future. This means that up to 2,418 euros per year will now be available for disability care. Despite the improved benefits provided by the state nursing care insurance, there is still a large gap in the provision of care for those in need of long-term care. In order to avoid financial distress in the case of long-term care, it is urgently advisable to take out private supplementary long-term care insurance at an early stage.
Preparing for care with a course
In order to prepare yourself specifically for the care of a relative, you have the opportunity to take part in a care course. Welfare associations, church organisations and health insurance funds offer such courses, for example. This course teaches you how to observe patients, how to do the right things and how to use nursing aids. It is also particularly important to learn how to lift and carry patients in a way that is easy on the back. In the nursing course you will also meet people who are preparing for the same situation. Here you can make contacts, exchange experiences and receive many practical tips.
Redesigning an apartment for the person in need of care.
In the case of a need for care, the apartment must also be adapted accordingly. This often includes a nursing bed as well as the removal of tripping hazards and age-appropriate conversion. With an adjustable nursing bed, the patient can be supported during erection and sleeping comfort can also be improved.
Home care by relatives is one of the most frequent forms of care in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2015 about 70% of all people in need of care were treated on an outpatient basis, about 50% of them by relatives alone.
An accident, a sudden illness or signs of old age can lead to a senior citizen becoming a nursing case. Here it is usually the close relatives who step in and take over the care of the relative. But what needs to be considered when preparing care? What are the possibilities of financial help and support? How can carers be relieved?
Wohnen-im-Alter has summarised the most important information in the overview guide on home care by relatives.
A senior does not always suddenly become a nursing case. It is often a protracted process in which the need for care becomes increasingly apparent. During this time it is advisable to prepare for the upcoming situation. This includes, among other things, discussing important decisions in the family and, if possible, making them together.
When a nursing case is announced, senior citizens as well as their close relatives are confronted with a multitude of questions. At the same time, these questions entail a large number of decisions that have to be taken.