What is outpatient care?
Many people in need of care who live at home are supported by outpatient care – either because relatives are unable to provide care at home or are unable to do so on their own. The term “mobile care” is sometimes also used for “outpatient care”.
Outpatient care: Tasks
Outpatient care provides home care assistance (as a benefit in kind) in various areas:
- Nursing care measures (such as help with coping with and organizing everyday life, e.g. walks, help with writing letters, leisure activities, games, etc.)
- Help with household chores (such as cleaning the home)
- Advice for those in need of care and relatives on care issues, help with arranging assistance services (such as meals on wheels), organization of transport services or patient transport
Outpatient care: Costs
“How much does an outpatient care service cost?” This is a very important question for most people in need of care and their relatives. This is because care insurance only covers part of the costs – how much depends on the care level of the person in need of care. The remaining amount must be paid privately.
The total cost of outpatient care depends primarily on the services provided by the outpatient care service and how often it comes to the home.
Subsidies for outpatient care
Outpatient care: choosing a provider
The long-term care insurance funds provide a free overview of approved care services as well as lists of services and price comparisons. You can also find outpatient care providers in your area in the business directory. Many outpatient care services are run by churches and charities, others are purely private companies.
You should consider the following points when choosing an outpatient care service:
- How many permanent specialist and auxiliary staff does the company employ?
- Can the care service provide all the assistance required, including, for example, medical prescriptions?
- Are the care staff’s assignments based on the daily routine of the person in need of care?
- Does the service work together with other facilities, such as day-care facilities?
- Is an individually tailored care plan drawn up for outpatient care and discussed with relatives?
Disability care
If you provide outpatient care for a relative, this does not mean that you have to be fully available 365 days a year. In the event of illness or if you go on a well-deserved vacation, you can apply for so-called respite care (substitute care) for the person in need of care for up to six weeks a year.
You can also use part of the short-term care benefits for respite care. This helps, for example, if you need a replacement for a longer period of time but a short-term care facility is not an option.
You are only entitled to respite care if you have been providing care at home for at least six months and the person in need of care has been assigned at least care level 2.
Meals on wheels
To ensure that the person in need of care regularly receives a variety of meals, a meal delivery service, better known as “meals on wheels”, can be arranged. This is a service provided by social welfare centers, other social institutions, aid organizations or charities. Ready-made meals are delivered to your home – when and how often is agreed with the provider. With many providers, you can choose between ready-to-serve, reheatable or frozen meals.
- Order the menus of various providers. What is on offer and how many choices do you have?
- Are special diets/preparations also offered (low-salt, gluten-free, pork-free, pureed, etc.)? Can you also order drinks?
- Order a sample menu. Do you and the person in need of care like it and does it meet your requirements?
- Can you heat the meal in the dishes provided in the microwave?
- How does the ordering process work? Can you cancel or reorder at a later date?
- Is there a fixed contact person you can turn to?
- Can the meals be delivered at the desired time?
- Are you also supplied at weekends and on public holidays? Does this incur additional costs?
- What prices does the provider charge for the menus and what payment options are offered?
The cost of a menu is usually between 4.50 and 7 euros. It is therefore worth comparing prices. If you cannot afford “meals on wheels” or can only afford it with difficulty, you should ask the senior citizens’ or social welfare office for a subsidy.
