is governed by § 7a of SGB XI [mfn] § 7a 7a 7a SGB XI[/mfn] and is intended to ensure that all parties involved are aware of and receive the appropriate care services.
The aim: to improve the quality of care at home and support carers.
Who is entitled to care advice and counseling?
All people in need of care with care levels 1 to 5 are entitled to care advice. Anyone who only receives care allowance is obliged to receive regular advice in accordance with § 37.3SGB XI[mfn]§ 37.3 SGB XI[/mfn].
Care allowance recipients and obligation
- Care level 1: voluntary counseling possible
- Care level 2 and 3at least every six months (01.01.-30.06. & 01.07.-31.12.)
- Care level 4 and 5at least quarterly
Procedure and content of a consultation in accordance with § 37.3 SGB XI
Thorough preparation for the care consultation is crucial in order to openly address all important aspects of the care situation and obtain suitable support options. Start by having the current care degree certificate ready, as this forms the basis for all further discussions.
Make a note of individual questions about the care situation that you would like to clarify and, if possible, involve the caregiver in the conversation. A care diary or documentation of the day-to-day care routine will provide valuable insights for the care advisor or care specialist.
You should also check whether the last consultation was documented so that you can refer to existing recommendations. Do you also remember to record the current need for care aids or technical aids? Find out in advance about possible benefit entitlements from the care insurance fund or advice platforms.
It is advisable to have notes and writing materials ready for the meeting to record important points. Make sure that you know the contact details of your care insurance fund and mark the deadlines for the next consultation (01.01.-30.06. and 01.07.-31.12.) visibly in your calendar.
Typical questions during care advice
- Which benefits am I entitled to?
- Can I care benefits in kind with care allowance combine?
- Which aids can be applied for?
- Are there care courses for relatives?
Special features of receiving care allowance only
People in need of care who only receive care allowance are subject to a special obligation: they must make regular use of a counseling service in accordance with § 37.3 SGB XI. The purpose of these consultations is to ensure the quality of home care and to provide professional support to the caregivers. The advice must be provided by a licensed care professional and evidence of this must be provided to the care insurance fund.
If the consultation is not carried out and documented on time, this can lead to a reduction or complete withdrawal of the care allowance. It is therefore important to adhere to the prescribed periods (01.01.-30.06. and 01.07.-31.12.) and to make appointments in good time. The consultation also offers the opportunity to address current challenges, obtain information on additional services and improve the quality of care in the long term.
Differences between care advice in accordance with § 7a 7a SGB XI, advisory services in accordance with § 37.3 SGB XI and advisory visits
| Term | Target group | Legal basis | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care advice | All people in need of care and relatives | § 7a SGB XI | Comprehensive advice on all topics |
| Consulting assignment | Care allowance recipients | § 37.3 SGB XI | Checking the quality of care at home |
| Consultation visit | Colloquial for use | - | see consulting assignment |
Role and tasks of care advisors and care services
Care advisors and care services play a key role in the context of care advice and the mandatory advisory assignments in accordance with Section 37.3 SGB XI. They are the central point of contact for people in need of care and their relatives when it comes to securing care, coordinating services and maintaining or improving the quality of home care.
While care advisors primarily provide advice and organizational support, care services carry out practical advice and document the results. Both professional groups work closely with the long-term care insurance companies and make a significant contribution to supporting recipients of long-term care benefits and implementing legal requirements.
Care advisor: Your contact at the care insurance fund
Care advisors offer independent advice that is not influenced by commercial interests. They support people in need of care and their relatives in the coordination of care services and ensure that all available assistance is used optimally.
They also draw up individual care plans that are tailored to the specific needs and life situation of the person in need of care. This enables tailor-made care that sustainably improves quality of life.
Nursing service: professionally competent implementation of consulting assignments
Care services play a central role in carrying out care visits. As part of these visits, they create a verifiable assignment report that serves as documentation for both the care insurance fund and the person in need of care and their relatives.
This report contains detailed information on the current care situation, assesses the quality of home care and makes well-founded recommendations for improvement. The aim is to identify existing gaps in care, point out practical help and stabilize or optimize the care situation in the home environment in the long term.
Importance of advice for care allowance recipients and care levels
Care level 1
- No obligation, but recommendation for advice
Care level 2 and 3
- Semi-annual consultation mandatory
Care level 4 and 5
- Quarterly assignments required
Deadlines, obligations to provide evidence, documentation and contact persons
Care allowance recipients must adhere to certain deadlines for counseling assignments: Proof of the assignment must be provided to the long-term care insurance fund twice a year - once for the period from January 1 to June 30 and again for the period from July 1 to December 31.
The consultation is carried out and documented by appropriately qualified care professionals who either belong to an outpatient care service or work on a freelance basis. The regional care support centers as well as the care insurance funds and approved care services are available as central points of contact to provide support in making appointments, answering questions about content and providing the correct documentation.
Support options for family caregivers and people in need of care
People in need of care and their relatives can take advantage of a wide range of support options. These include care courses and training that provide both basic and in-depth knowledge of home care, thereby improving the quality of care. In addition, relief amounts are available, which can be used for care services or help in the household, for example.
Another important component is respite care, which steps in when the regular caregiver is temporarily absent due to illness, vacation or other reasons.
Information on care benefits, care allowance, care benefits in kind and combination benefits
| Performance | Description |
| Care allowance | Direct cash benefit for home care |
| Long-term care benefits in kind | Services provided by professional services |
| Combination service | Combination of cash and non-cash benefits |
Tips for preparing for the care consultation
Careful preparation for the care consultation is particularly important. Make a note of all relevant questions about the current care situation in advance so that no concerns are forgotten during the consultation.
A care log or care diary helps to provide a structured account of daily care and possible challenges. Be sure to involve the caregiver, as they can provide important information about everyday care. In addition, check which services have been used so far in order to ask specifically for additional support options.
Common problems and how to solve them
Challenges can always arise in day-to-day care that require a quick response. If, for example, a deadline for a consultation has been missed, the care insurance fund should be contacted immediately to avoid possible consequences such as reduced benefits. If there is no capacity at the usual care services, freelance care professionals can be a good alternative.
If there is uncertainty about possible benefit entitlements or legal requirements, the regional care support centers can help - they offer expert guidance and support in clarifying open questions.
Advice centers, care support points and digital services
People in need of care and their relatives can turn to a variety of contact points for questions about care services, support options and legal regulations. These include nationwide care support centers that offer individual advice on site and provide support with applications and the coordination of care assistance.
Quality assurance through consulting assignments
Consultation assignments make an important contribution to quality assurance in home care. As part of these assignments, a thorough examination and documentation of the quality of care at home is carried out by qualified specialists.
Risks and deficits in care can be identified at an early stage and suitable measures can be developed together with the family members or caregivers. A central component of this advice is also the recommendation of suitable aids that can make everyday care easier and improve the safety and well-being of the person in need of care.
Practical examples of care advice
Example 1: Care level 2, person living alone
As part of the care consultation, it was determined that the person in need of care who lives alone would benefit from a home emergency call system in order to receive help quickly in an emergency.
In addition, the need for a food delivery service was identified to ensure a regular and balanced diet.
Example 2: Care level 4, caring daughter
The consultation revealed that a combination of respite care to relieve the daughter and the receipt of a combination of care allowance and care benefits in kind would be a sensible solution.
This allows home care to be organized flexibly and at the same time improves the security of care.
Checklist for the consultation
- Care degree certificate available: Do you have a current notification of the degree of care?
- Questions prepared: Have individual questions about the care situation been noted down?
- Caregiver present: Is the caregiver present during the conversation?
- Bring a care protocol: Has a care diary or documentation of day-to-day care been completed?
- Last consultation documented: Is there written documentation of the last consultation?
- Aids requirements recorded: Are there any current needs for care aids or technical aids?
- Information on benefits obtained: Has information been collected on possible benefit entitlements?
- Have notes and pen ready: Ready to take notes during the conversation?
- Do you know how to contact the long-term care insurance fund? Do you know how to contact the long-term care insurance fund?
- Deadlines marked in the calendar: Have the time slots (01.01-30.06 / 01.07-31.12) for meeting the consultation deadline been noted?
Notes on relevant periods
- 01.01.-30.06.: first half of the calendar year
- 01.07.-31.12.: second half
Special information if you only receive care allowance
People in need of care who only receive care allowance are required by law to take part in regular counseling sessions. This measure not only serves to ensure high-quality care at home, but is also a prerequisite for the continued receipt of care allowance.
If the consultation is missed or not properly documented, this can have consequences: As a rule, this leads to a reduction or even cancellation of the care allowance by the care insurance fund. To avoid this, the deadlines and requirements set should be strictly adhered to.
Supplementary care aids for everyday life and safety
In addition to traditional care advice and statutory services, there are many other services that can make everyday care easier and improve the quality of life of those in need of care and their relatives.
These supplementary forms of support often start where individual needs go beyond basic care or where there are special requirements in terms of the living environment and mental health.
Housing advice on barrier-free adaptation: These services help to adapt the home environment to the individual needs of the person in need of care. This includes measures such as installing grab rails in the bathroom, removing thresholds or installing a stair lift. The aim is to promote independence and minimize the risk of accidents in everyday life.
Advice on aids via medical supply stores: Medical supply stores offer comprehensive advice on technical aids that can make everyday care easier. These include rollators, care beds, incontinence products and bathing aids.
The specialist staff on site help to select the right products, provide information on cost coverage by care or health insurance and assist with the application process. By working closely with doctors and care insurance companies, medical supply stores help to ensure that the required aids can be provided quickly and individually.
Self-help groups and psychological support: In addition to material and organizational help, emotional relief also plays a major role in everyday care.
Self-help groups are an opportunity for family caregivers to talk to other carers about various everyday care issues, share experiences and receive social support. Psychological support can also help to cope with stress, excessive demands or depressive moods.
Many long-term care insurance companies arrange appropriate services or work together with counseling centers to specifically promote mental well-being and prevent long-term overload.
Care consultation as the basis for care planning and care coordination
The care consultation is not only a mandatory legal instrument, but also an important basis for individual, needs-based care planning. By specifically recording the current care situation - including physical, psychological and social aspects - care advisors can work together with the person in need of care and their relatives to create a care plan that is tailored to their actual needs.
The focus is not only on acute challenges, but also on medium and long-term perspectives, such as possible changes in care requirements or the organization of additional assistance.
The consultation also makes it possible to compare different forms of care - such as outpatient care services, day care, short-term care or inpatient facilities - and assess their suitability for the respective life situation. The care consultation acts as a coordination point between the person in need of care, relatives, medical services, care services, the care insurance fund and, if applicable, social institutions.
Based on the information obtained during the consultation, further steps such as applying for benefits, organizing aids or connecting to support networks can also be planned in a structured manner. This makes the care consultation a central control element in individual care planning.
Conclusion: Use care advice in a targeted manner - your entitlement, your support
A care consultation is not only provided for by law, but is also a valuable tool for improving the care situation and planning support effectively. Make use of your entitlement, talk to your care insurance fund or a care support center - and work together to create high-quality home care.
Tip: Arrange your next consultation in good time in order to meet deadlines and receive all benefits on time.
