Care & Self-Care

Especially in a situation as demanding as caring for a family member with dementia, many caregivers hope to maintain a sense of normalcy and financial security by working part-time. You can make this possible, for example, by having your family member who needs care looked after at a day care center during the week or on specific days. Such facilities are usually open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., organize pick-up and drop-off services, and provide all necessary assistance, shared meals, and social interaction.

Relaxation Vacation

You can still take a vacation even if you ‘re caring for a family member at home ! To do so, you can apply for what’s known as short-term care or respite care. There are also special vacation packages for travelers with family members who require care. These are generally hotels that have local partnerships with home care providers, whose services are then covered by the long-term care insurance fund under the usual terms. You can find more information and resources online in a brochure published by the German Alzheimer’s Association.

Time for Hobbies

Do you have a hobby, but can’t leave your family member with dementia at home alone? Find out about options for your family member by the hour, for example through a home visit service to have them looked after. In many places, there are now also programs specifically for people with dementia, such as senior centers that meet several days a week.

Exchange Programs & Courses

Caring for a loved one is a central part of your life—something you probably don’t discuss with everyone, but would like to talk about with others. Talking with people who are in a similar situation— and to whom you therefore don’t have to explain everything — has proven to be particularly helpful. In many places, there are self-help or support groups for family caregivers. The local care counseling service or consumer advice center can provide you with relevant contact information. Or you can search online for support groups on your own.

Special courses are also offeredfor family members of people with dementia, designed to help them reflect on their own behavior and find solutions to difficult situations in everyday life. Examples include the “Hilfe beim Helfen” training series offered by the German Alzheimer’s Association and the EduKation demenz®training program developed by Prof. Dr. Sabine Engel.

Joint Leisure Activities

People with dementia often have a strong urge to move around. Here, group activities such as sports for seniors, walks, or easy hikes can make everyday life together much more relaxing. For one thing, you’re not the only one in the group responsible for supervising your family member; for another, engaging in physical activity yourself can also help you relieve stress.

Self-Help Groups

Caring for a family member may require you to focus your daily routine heavily—if not entirely—on this task. This often leaves little time for one’s own social life. Support groups for family caregivers can help prevent social isolation and provide a place to find understanding people to talk to. Within the group , you can support one another in coping with health, mental health, or social issues. But such a group is also a safe space to discuss topics that are otherwise considered taboo, such as, for example, To discuss incontinence and learn from the experiences of other group members. This gives me new strength to face the challenges of my daily life as a caregiver, which isn’t always easy.

If possible, choose a support group that is tailored to your specific situation—for example, a group for family members of people with dementia or a group for parents of children with disabilities. You can find suitable groups online at sites such as www.selbsthilfenetz.de or www.nakos.de.

Care networks within companies are also considered self-help groups. So far, they are mainly found in large companies, but their numbers are constantly growing. To find out whether your company has a caregiving network, contact the Human Resources department, the Workplace Health Management (BGM) program, or the works council.

Health Treatments & Rehabilitation Programs

Statutory health insurance provides benefits for medical rehabilitation in cases of disability and to prevent the need for long-term care. However , benefits are also provided if the need for long-term care has already arisen. The measure is then designed to eliminate, reduce, or compensate for the need for care, or to prevent it from worsening.

The insured person must apply for rehabilitation benefits. The application can be submitted directly to the organization responsible for the program. If the insurer is not clear, the application can be submitted to the health insurance company. They will then forward the application accordingly. The attending physician should be involved in the decision-making process, as a diagnostic report is usually required. If this is available, the process can be completed quickly.

Specialized geriatric rehabilitation for people aged 70 and older is offered on an outpatient and inpatient basis. The goal of geriatric rehabilitation is to help older adults maintain or regain the greatest possible level of independence. Typical examples of conditions requiring geriatric rehabilitation include a stroke or a hip fracture.

As part of an assessment, the Medical Service may issue a separate recommendation for prevention and rehabilitation and forward it to the long-term care insurance fund. The long-term care insurance fund then notifies the insured person and, with the insured person’s consent, the treating physician. In this case, the insured person no longer needs to file a claim. The long-term care insurance fund notifies the agency responsible for rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation is initiated only with the consent of the person concerned. In this process, particular emphasis is placed on encouraging the insured person in need of care to cooperate. In order to set goals as part of a rehabilitation program, it is necessary to have sufficient physical stamina. Serious disorientation or severe mental disorders, as well as other impairments, may prevent participation.

One special form of rehabilitation is mobile rehabilitation. These services are provided in the insured person’s familiar living environment, including in a long-term care facility. People with intellectual disabilities, in particular, can benefit from this form of rehabilitation, since they do not have to leave their familiar surroundings. In addition, family members and care staff are actively involved in the care process.