If relatives take over the care themselves, those in need of care receive a monthly care allowance from the care insurance. With this money, they can pay for the increased expenses that arise from the care. The amounts vary depending on the level of care. The person in need of care receives the approved sum directly from the long-term care insurance fund and can use it to pay relatives, friends, neighbors or other people who care for them.
Quality assurance visits for appropriate care
To ensure that care is actually provided appropriately, care allowance recipients in care grades 2 and 3 are required every six months, and in care grades 4 and 5 every three months, to have a care consultation conducted by a care service approved by the insurance fund. The costs for this are borne by the long-term care insurance fund. Even if care recipients with care level 1 are not entitled to care allowance, they can make use of the visits voluntarily.
Benefits for home care
Care recipients who do not use an outpatient care service receive a monthly care allowance to support and recognize care. The person in need of care is free to decide what to use the care allowance for. However, the prerequisite is that home care is adequately provided. This is first determined by an assessor and then checked in the regular quality assurance visits, as described. The care allowance is based on the respective care degree and amounts to monthly:
- 316 euros for care degree 2
- 545 euros at care level 3
- 728 euros at care level 4
- 901 euros at care level 5
Benefits for outpatient care (care benefit in kind).
People in need of care can use an outpatient care service that provides care at home. The costs are covered by the long-term care insurance. The person in need of care can choose between all care services that have concluded a care contract according to §§ 71 ff. SGB XI. The care services then settle their accounts directly with the care insurance company. The maximum monthly amounts for the care service are:
- 689 euros for care degree 2
- 1,298 euros at care level 3
- 1,612 euros at care level 4
- 1,995 euros at care level 5
Benefits for full inpatient care
In the case of full inpatient care in an assisted facility, the long-term care insurance pays the nursing home a monthly lump sum. This amounts to:
- 125 euros for care degree 1
- 770 euros with care degree 2
- 1,262 euros at care level 3
- 1,775 euros at care level 4
- 2,005 euros at care level 5
The person in need of care must pay the costs incurred for accommodation, meals and any special comfort services themselves – unless the care costs are less than the flat rate paid by the long-term care insurance. In this case, the flat rate also covers the cost of room and board.
Relief for caregivers: Preventive care
If, in the case of home care, the caregiver is prevented by work or illness or goes on vacation, the person in need of care is entitled to substitute care. The long-term care insurance fund pays up to 1,612 euros a year for substitute or preventive care for a maximum of six weeks. The prerequisite is that the caregiver has already cared for the person in need of care for six months prior to the first prevention within the scope of a care degree. If the prevention care is taken over by close relatives, they can, for example, claim reimbursement of travel costs or loss of earnings. It could also come the nursing service more often if the person in need of care can still remain alone for hours.
Alternative short-term care
If replacement care becomes necessary before the end of a year, the person in need of care can be placed in a short-term care facility for a certain period of time. There, persons in need of care receive inpatient care for a limited period of time. The costs of short-term care are covered for up to eight weeks with up to 1,612 euros. Short-term care and substitute care can also be claimed in parallel within a calendar year. This entitlement to preventive care and short-term care arises anew each calendar year. Many senior citizens’ homes also have some short-term care places available. However, there are also facilities solely for short-term care.The addresses can be obtained from the local care advice centers.
Partial inpatient care and night care
Another option for relieving the burden: older people are cared for and looked after in a so-called daytime or nighttime inpatient facility, otherwise they live in their own homes. Day and night care are particularly useful when caregiving relatives are working. Day and night care facilities are offered by welfare associations, municipal and private providers. While day care facilities are very common in Germany, night care facilities have hardly been established so far. The benefits for partial inpatient care amount to a monthly maximum of:
- 689 euros for care degree 2
- 1,298 euros at care level 3
- 1,612 euros at care level 4
- 1,995 euros at care level 5
