Everyone has to go shopping, but it is not just a necessity or a chore, it is also an important opportunity to participate in social life. Going out of the house is associated with many social interactions. We meet friends, take the opportunity for a quick chat, get some fresh air and use the walk as a balance to our daily lives. If this becomes more difficult due to illness or old age and relatives do not have time to provide support, shopping assistance can be a valuable solution for maintaining quality of life.
We, the agency for domestic help, explain to you what a shopping assistant is and how it can enrich your life.
Shopping aid: Definition
Shopping assistance is a service that helps people with their everyday errands. This service can be used for a limited period during an illness or for a longer period if someone is no longer able to shop for themselves or only to a limited extent due to restrictions.
Who can claim shopping assistance?
At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, shopping was a risk for many people. The shopping assistance service was set up for these people, but it is still available to people who need help. Not only senior citizens use this service, but also anyone who is unable to do so independently. The shopping assistance helps people to always have fresh food at home so that they can eat healthily.
Applying for help is straightforward: Only the name and address are required and the shopping help can usually start at short notice. A volunteer does the shopping once a week or every 14 days. How much shopping can be done depends on the circumstances. Some volunteers go on foot or by bike, others arrange to go shopping together and use the mobile shopping cart, i.e. a minibus. This means that even heavier items such as crates of drinks can be transported easily.
Types of shopping assistance
The word "shopping assistance" is not a protected term: alternatively, this service is often referred to as a shopping service or shopping service.
There are various types of shopping assistance and shopping services that you can take advantage of:
- Shopping companion
- Purchasing agency
- Delivery service
- Shopping bus and supermarket bus transfer
The different forms of shopping assistance vary not only in terms of who provides the assistance, but also in terms of the duration of the assistance, the costs and the possibility of receiving reimbursement from the health or care insurance fund. Would you like more time to chat over coffee and fewer worries? We will take care of the application process for you!
The shopping companion
The shopping companions are caregivers who either belong to charities and offer their help voluntarily or neighbors and friends who offer their help with shopping and accompany those affected.
Shopping assistance is primarily for the benefit of people who only have slight physical limitations and are therefore only slightly restricted in their mobility. It enables the senior citizens concerned to leave the house more safely and receive assistance with carrying groceries and shopping bags.
The purchasing agency
The shopping representative does the shopping for the person concerned by prior arrangement and brings the shopping home, for example in the form of a shopping list. This shopping assistance is offered both by private individuals and by professional service providers or charities.
Online shopping assistance has now also become established, which is particularly practical for people who are no longer able to shop for themselves due to illness.
For those who want to have a say in the product selection, the so-called "Click & Collect" offers from certain supermarket chains are ideal. With this service, you order and pay for the products you want online from home and your shopping representative then collects the shopping for you.
Delivery service
If you want to do without a shopping assistant, you can also use the delivery service. Many supermarkets offer the option of simply ordering your groceries online and having them delivered to your home.
There are also some service providers who specialize in doing your shopping independently of a supermarket.
Shopping bus and supermarket transfer
Welfare organizations such as the German Red Cross (DRK) or the Johanniter offer various shopping services. These include the "mobile shopping cart", a ride to the supermarket or shopping center.
Some district associations of welfare organizations also offer the "citizen car": These act like a cab on a donation basis, taking those affected and senior citizens to the supermarket. For information about services in your region, it is best to contact the relevant district association.
In some rural areas, there are also "shopping buses" or "supermarket buses" that travel to different villages as traveling supermarkets.
How do I find the right shopping assistant?
Finding the right shopping assistance can be a major challenge for many people. However, the focus should be on the fact that the service offers opportunities for relief. It should ensure that there is always enough fresh food in the home.
There are a few questions you can ask yourself to find out which shopping assistance or, more precisely, which service is best for you:
- Do I need shopping assistance for a foreseeable period, for example due to illness, or for a longer period?
- How often do I have to go shopping?
- Can I reduce the number of purchases I make?
- How mobile am I or the person who needs help with shopping?
- Which products do I need to buy and which stores do I need to visit?
- What budget do I have available for shopping assistance?
- Do I or the person concerned possibly have a care level that justifies the care insurance fund covering the costs?
Once you have answered these questions, you will be able to better assess which type of shopping aid best suits your needs and circumstances. You can then start looking for suitable shopping aids.
How can shopping assistance for senior citizens and people in need of care be financed?
Some people who are considering using this service are certainly asking themselves this question. The price of shopping assistance varies depending on the type of service. For private delivery services, the costs mainly relate to the delivery fees, which can vary greatly. Some providers deliver from a purchase value of just EUR 5, while others have higher minimum order values. The delivery costs themselves can vary, as can the other conditions. Some supermarkets offer a free delivery service from a certain order value, while others charge a flat rate or calculate the price according to weight or delivery time. It is advisable to ask locally or check the supermarket's website.
What does a shopping aid cost?
If the persons concerned are not in need of care, the costs must be borne in full by themselves. These costs depend on whether you choose independent caregivers or care facilities, with hourly rates ranging from EUR 15 to EUR 25. It is important to compare the different offers and check the services included.
If your relatives are in need of care, the costs for shopping assistance can be covered by the statutory care insurance fund.
Shopping assistance with care level
According to the new Care Reinforcement Act II [mfn]Care Reinforcement Act II[/mfn], people are in need of care if they require support in everyday life due to physical, mental or psychological limitations. People with "minor impairment of independence" (care level 1) are already entitled to support in the household and everyday life. In such cases, the care insurance fund provides up to EUR 131 per month as relief amountg available. It is important to note that this amount must be earmarked for care and respite services and cannot be used freely by the person in need of care. In addition, not just any person may provide these services, but only providers who are recognized by law.
It is therefore necessary that the provider you wish to choose is licensed under state law. You should therefore find out in advance from the relevant long-term care insurance fund which recognized providers are available in your area. In practice, the amount of up to EUR 131 is paid directly by the care insurance fund to the recognized provider.
These funds can be used for various services, such as an outpatient care service or everyday assistance, which also includes shopping assistance(§ 45bSGBXI)[mfn]§ 45b SGB XI[/mfn]. For higher care grades it may even be possible for you to be provided with hourly care that can also do the shopping.
Applying for a care degree
Do you think you are entitled to a care degree but have not yet applied for one?
- Contact the relevant long-term care insurance fund that is affiliated to the respective health insurance fund.
- The long-term care insurance fund will send you a form which you must complete and return.
- An expert makes an appointment to assess the person concerned in person. For those with statutory health insurance, an assessor from the Medical Review Board of the German Health Insurance Fund (MDK) will come, and for those with private insurance, an assessor from MEDICPROOF.
- Wait for the decision from the care insurance fund.
- If the decision is positive, you can claim a maximum relief amount of EUR 131 per month for support in everyday life.
Find out more about the Application for a care degree!
