Care by Relatives

If you've decided to care for a loved one at home, the long-term care insurance offers various benefits to assist you. For example, long-term care insurance covers the costs of various caregiving aids, including devices and materials necessary for home care. These caregiving aids are intended to help the care recipient lead a more independent life and make caregiving easier.

Caregiving Relatives – Who counts as one?

Caregiving relatives include family members as well as friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and private individuals who provide care. The prerequisite is that this person regularly cares for and supports the care recipient in their home environment and assists them in their daily life.

What tasks are involved in home care?

Home care by relatives primarily involves regularly supporting the care recipient in their daily life, such as with dressing, shopping, or personal hygiene. Additionally, there are other responsibilities, such as managing legal and financial matters, as well as social tasks arising from the caregiving activity. A crucial role of caregiving relatives is maintaining social contact with the care recipient, which often represents the most significant role.

It is important to note that the need for care usually develops over time. Initially, most care recipients only need practical support in daily activities such as shopping, tidying up, or running errands. Over time, the need for care may extend to activities like cooking meals, eating, washing, dressing, using the toilet, or taking medication.

It is important to be well-informed in advance about the government support available for caregiving relatives. The necessary information about the government benefits can be found in the Care Support Act.