Respite Care – For a Break from Caring at Home

Going to the cinema, shopping or a short holiday – people who care for others at home do not have much time for such things. However, in Germany another person can step in for them – by the help of respite care, which is paid by the health insurance. But there are some things which have to be kept in mind.

03/01/2009

Time-out for carers at home to
recharge the batteries © SXC

Respite Care
Let’s assume, Mrs. Smith is being cared by her daughter at home, who would like to visit a theatre. Then they can look for someone to help out during the time the daughter is absent. The assistant can be paid by the money which Mrs. Smith gets from by the health insurance. Besides, it makes no difference whether a professional nursing service or the neighbour helps out.

Who can use respite care
The person who has been cared for since at least six month at home has to belong to one of the three levels of care, which exist in Germany, to use respite care.

How to apply it
Before applying respite care one should talk to the health insurance about which information it needs. Some insurances offer forms which can be downloaded from their websites. One has to state why a caring person is absent, who helps out and how long.

How much and how long is it paid
The health insurance takes over the costs up to 1470 Euros each year and up to 28 days. This means: if either the money or the days are spent, the allowance is used-up. Respite care can be taken for whole days or some hours. Whole days (over eight hours) are deducted from the 28 days, single hours (under eight hours) not. The wage for hourly assistance is deducted from the 1470 Euros. The affected people decide on their own how much they want to pay.

Those who have not known the respite care yet and who have paid an assistant on their own can demand the costs back for four years.

Advice
Health insurances have to give detailed advice about care to their members. Another contact point for interested people is the German Federal Ministry of Health.

Natascha Mörs
REHACARE.de

- German health insurances: www.gkv-spitzenverband.de
- The German Federal Ministry of Health at: www.bmg.bund.de