Many people need care in old age, after an accident, or in the event of illness. Depending on the care level, family situation, and needs of the person concerned, home care can be a good option. Often, it is the children of those in need of care, or people close to them, who take on this task.
This saves costs and a tedious search for a caregiver, but it can also bring a lot of physical and emotional strain. In this blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about home care. We will give you tips and show you aids and services that make home care easier and safer.
1. Prerequisites for Home Care
First, it is important to know that caring for relatives and seniors at home is only suitable if the person concerned has a relatively low care level (1–2) and is still quite independent and physically fit.
To determine the care level, an assessment is issued by a doctor or a nursing professional, in Germany by the Social Medical Service. An application must be submitted for the procedure. There are generally up to seven care levels, which are based on the need for help of the person concerned. Depending on the care level, there are also different financial supports, which we will discuss in more detail in the next point.
To quickly get an overview of what care level the senior is likely to have, you can use the care level calculator. However, this is only an estimate and serves as a guide. The actual care level is, of course, determined by medical professionals.
In addition to home care, there are numerous other living arrangements for seniors and people in need of assistance. Depending on how much help the person concerned needs, a different living arrangement may be appropriate.
The accessibility of the home, such as barrier-free transitions, non-slip mats, and grab rails in the bathroom and toilet, is also a prerequisite for caring for relatives and seniors at home. We have already discussed the different living arrangements for seniors and accessibility in the blog article "Age-appropriate living: Growing old at home".
Being physically and emotionally resilient and fit is also one of the conditions for caring for close relatives. One should be aware that this task, while very valuable, can also bring a lot of responsibility and challenges, as well as take up a lot of time.
2. Compensation & Leave for Caring for Relatives
2. 1. Care Allowance or Care Support Allowance
People who care for relatives can apply for care allowance or care support allowance in Austria and Germany. The amount of the subsidy varies depending on the care level of the person in need of assistance or the senior.
In Austria, the subsidy ranges from €1,200 to a maximum of €2,200 for a maximum of 28 days per year. In Germany, it is between approx. €300 - approx. €950 monthly.
Further information can be found on the websites of the Federal Ministry of Germany and the Federal Ministry of Austria.
2.2. Care Leave or Care Time
When caring for relatives and seniors, you have a legal right to care leave. This is an unpaid leave from work.
In Austria, this can last up to three months or be taken in the form of part-time work. In Germany, it can also be taken unpaid for up to six months in the form of part-time or full-time work.
2.3. Relative Bonus
This bonus is paid in Austria if people with care level 4 or higher are cared for in a home environment by relatives or people close to them. Additionally, you should be pension insured during this activity.
The subsidy in Austria for 2024 is €1,500. Under certain conditions, pensioners can also receive this bonus. There is no right to retire earlier.
However, through care, the minimum insurance period for retirement can be reached faster through credits on the pension account or through pension points. This means that the person concerned can theoretically retire or go into pension earlier.
2.4. Care Release or Sick Leave for Caring for Relatives
Employees who are in a private-law employment relationship have a legal right to care release in Austria for the support of sick close relatives.
It does not matter whether you live in the same household or not. However, this can only be taken for a maximum of one working week and thus serves for the short-term care of relatives.
If a relative suddenly becomes a care case, the employee can immediately apply for leave from work in Germany for up to ten working days.
2.5. Family Care Time
For family care time, people in Germany are released for home care of relatives for up to two years with a minimum weekly working time of fifteen hours.
3. Tasks in Caring for Relatives
When caring for relatives and seniors, a central task is to support the person in daily life, as well as with shopping, doctor's appointments, or administrative procedures. Depending on the need for help, cooking, taking meals and tablets, as well as washing, dressing, and going to the toilet may also be necessary.
Social contact is particularly important for the person in need of care. Shared conversations, excursions, and emotional support can greatly help the affected person or senior.
Appreciative communication, strengthening abilities, and maintaining independence play a central role here. The Red Cross in Austria and Malteser in Germany offer courses for caring for relatives, in which they want to give valuable tips and make people "fit for care".
4. Potential Challenges & Burdens
As already mentioned, caring for relatives is very important and socially commendable, but also very demanding. There are numerous potential challenges that can confront caregivers. Here are the most important ones at a glance:
4.1. Time Commitment
Caring for relatives and seniors often requires a lot of time and demands good time and energy management from caregivers. A potential risk or challenge is that other obligations, such as work and family, could be neglected.
Here it is important to inform yourself about a leave of absence from work or part-time care and possibly take turns with other relatives so as not to bear the sole responsibility and burden.
4.2. Emotional Strain
Observing and experiencing a loved one close to us becoming physically or mentally weaker can be very emotionally taxing.
Feelings of grief, helplessness, and loss can put relatives to a hard test. Talking to someone about it or even seeking psychological support can be very important for one's own health when caring for relatives and seniors.
Care courses can also be a relief for the caregiver.
4.3. Physical Exertion
Often, the caregiver has to perform physical work, such as lifting or carrying the person in need of assistance or the senior. This can be very exhausting and in some cases lead to injuries. Taking breaks, taking good care of oneself, or taking advantage of supportive services, such as mobile care, can be helpful here.
4.4. Financial Challenges
Caring for relatives and seniors at home can also mean a great financial burden: costs for medical care, aids for care, and possibly even a complete or partial loss of income can lead to financial challenges. In this case, applying for funding for the care of relatives and seniors is particularly important.
4.5. Digital Aids
Digital helpers or so-called "smart homes" can also be a great relief and help when caring for relatives. Especially when the caregiver cannot be permanently present due to work and family.
At the touch of a button, people in need of assistance can, for example, open doors themselves, activate lights via motion detectors, or switch on electrical appliances by voice command. A smart home is not only about supporting daily life but also about ensuring greater safety.
An automatic shut-off for the stove or other electronic devices can prevent household accidents and contribute to the safety of the people concerned.
Other digital assistance systems include, for example, senior mobile phones and emergency call systems, such as the home emergency call from the Red Cross or Malteser, and special emergency watches for seniors.
SOS emergency watches enable active and mobile seniors to age safely, even outside their own four walls. Such senior emergency watches are equipped with automatic fall detection. If a fall occurs at home, during a bike ride, or while working in the garden, the watch detects it.
If you do not confirm within 30 seconds that you are okay, this watch automatically calls the stored phone numbers in order, for example, of your children or neighbor.
Additional services, such as meals on wheels or mobile services, such as the social and health district, can also greatly relieve the caregiver. Meals on wheels delivers the respective meal warm to the home and thus saves the caregiver time and the trouble of cooking for the affected person or senior every time.
Mobile services, such as the social and health district, visit the person in need of assistance at home, administer medication, and are generally responsible for the care of the person in need of assistance.
Conclusion
When relatives are cared for at home, there are several aspects to consider: First, it is important to meet the prerequisites for caring for relatives.
First, the care level of the person concerned must be determined by specialists through an application to check whether caring for relatives in their own home is at all sensible.
If the person concerned is still relatively independent and requires little assistance, this form of care can be a good option.
In the next step, it is important to make the apartment or house barrier-free, for example, by providing threshold-free transitions or non-slip mats.
Furthermore, you should always inquire about any possibilities for leave from work, insurance, and compensation if you are caring for relatives and seniors at home.
In addition, digital helpers, smart assistance systems, and emergency call systems such as emergency watches can be used.
This enables independent and safe aging at home, in a familiar environment. They are a great help to both those affected and caregivers in home care.
