Practical example: Suddenly, life changes
Markus D. works as a team leader in a big information technology company in southern Germany. Every day, he commutes about 30 km between his hometown and his work by car. He often only gets home after 7 p.m. Sometimes, Markus D. also has to go on multi-day business trips. His wife Heike works three days a week as a tax consultant and takes care of their three children, all of whom attend school, as well as the family household. The D. family lives in a detached house with a garden, and Heike D. takes care of it mostly by herself. Markus D.’s parents live about a half hour’s drive away from the family. They are both almost 80 years old, but with the help of a cleaning lady and occasional assistance by the D. family, they are able to look after themselves.
In February of 2009, Marianne D. is diagnosed with beginning dementia. During a business meeting in June of 2009, Markus D. receives a phone call informing him that his father Fritz has suffered an acute stroke. An ambulance has already taken Fritz D. to the nearest hospital. There, doctors establish that he has had an especially severe stroke. When he is discharged ten days later, he still suffers from the consequences of the hemiplegia that manifests in a severe walking and swallowing impairment. His vision is also limited considerably.
To make matters worse, Markus D. is extremely occupied at work because his company is responsible for introducing a new computer program on the market within the following weeks. At the same time, several of his colleagues leave for their summer holidays. It is almost impossible for Markus D. to meet the demands he faces as a team leader on the one hand, and a son and father of a family on the other. Constantly, he has to surmount newly emerging obstacles: after work, it’s a quick visit to his father in hospital, then a quick check on his mother on the way home which, because of her progressing dementia, becomes more and more important, not least for his own peace of mind. When Markus D. comes home at night, it is too late to call health insurance or other agencies because they are all long closed for the day.
Due to the current situation at work, a few short-notice days off in order to organize the care and assistance for his parents are out of the question. On the two days of the week when she does not go to work, Heike D. tries to support her husband in organizing the care for her in-laws, but she quickly becomes frustrated and has to realize that there “is no central agency that can provide overall information on counseling, important addresses, and contacts”.
Markus D. remembers that his company offers a special service. Together with the service provider HUMANITAS Pflegeservice, his employer offers extensive counseling for care-giving relatives. Markus D. contacts human resources about the address of the responsible contact person. The next day, Markus D. and his personal HUMANITAS Pflegeservice care counselor have their first consulting meeting. Mr. D. informs his counselor about his situation as well as his parents’ and his family’s wishes. First, the care counselor provides extensive information on all legal and financial aspects that have to be taken into account regarding care and assistance. He also holds some valuable practical advice, for example concerning the assessment procedure. He provides details for all the important contacts and addresses for every single step.
Markus D. tells his care counselor that Marianne and Fritz D. would like to live in their house for as long as possible. The counselor thus informs him about all details regarding home care and provides a mobile nursing service for Fritz D. that takes care of the necessary nursing procedures every day. Furthermore, he gives Mr. D. ample advice on the use of auxiliary means. Fritz D. needs a walking frame and a bathtub lift. Without the two, homecare would not be possible for him; both aids are paid for by his nursing care insurance. The counselor also informs Markus D. about possible improvements in the living environment. There is, for example, a possibility to get financial aid from the nursing insurance in order to widen the doors. For Marianne D., he suggests someone to help her with every-day tasks by the hour, organized by HUMANITAS Pflegeservice. In the future, meals on wheels will deliver lunch to Markus D.’s parents. HUMANITAS Pflegeservice initiates the contact.
Mr. D. leaves the counseling interview with a feeling of reassurance. He knows that, together with his care counselor, he has found an individual care arrangement that meets the needs and wishes of his parents and his family. Now, he is able to fully concentrate on his work again, knowing that, if necessary, he can contact his counselor anytime.
News
Nursing care insurance – Increase of payments since 01.01.2015
Since January 2015 there is an increase of the amount of benefits in the nursing care insurance. We have outlined some of the important changes.
Non-cash benefits | Day and night services
Please find below the new maximum rates for non-cash benefits on an outpatient basis as well as the day and night services.
care level 0
till 2014 € 225
since 2015 € 231
care level I
till 2014 € 450
since 2015 € 468
care level I(people with significant disabilities)
till 2014 € 665
since 2015 € 689
care level II
till 2014 € 1.100
since 2015 € 1.144
care level II(people with significant disabilities)
till 2014 € 1.250
since 2015 € 1.298
care level III
till 2014 € 1.510
since 2015 € 1.612
If there are any questions left please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours HUMANITAS Pflegeservice – Team