which reflect their respective varying support needs.
- Care level 1 is awarded to people who have a slight impairment of independence. In this case, it is sufficient that help is occasionally required in everyday life, such as with personal hygiene or housework.
- Care level 2 is intended for people who have a moderate impairment. These people often need support in everyday life, particularly with mobility and independent living.
- Care level 3, as already described, is awarded for severe impairments. A considerable amount of support is required here.
- Care level 4 is intended for people who experience a severe impairment of their independence. These people require comprehensive round-the-clock care and support with their basic needs.
- Care level 5 is assigned to people who have special care requirements, usually due to serious illnesses or disabilities, and who require intensive, often medical care.
Each care level entails specific services aimed at improving the quality of life of those affected and promoting their independence as far as possible.
Good to know:
The care levels were replaced by five care grades with the care reform. Since then, it is no longer called care level 3, but care grade 3.
Definition of care level 3: severe impairment of independence
Care level 3 describes severe impairment of independence. In most cases, people who are classified in this care level require comprehensive support in everyday life, as their physical, mental and psychological condition is often severely restricted.
Care insurance benefits include financial support, benefits in kind and care aids to significantly improve the quality of life of those affected.
Benefits for care level 3
Care level 3 offers a wide range of benefits aimed at promoting the independence of those affected and reducing the burden on family carers.
Financing home help with care allowance
People with care level 3 receive a care allowance of 599 euros per month. This can be used freely, for example to finance a home help to assist with everyday tasks.
Long-term care benefits in kind
Care services in kind include professional care provided by a recognized outpatient care service. These services take on tasks such as personal hygiene, nutrition, mobility assistance and housekeeping activities. For care level 3, benefits in kind amounting to EUR 1,497 per month are provided.
Combination of care allowance and benefits in kind: Combination benefit
It is also possible to combine care allowance and care benefits in kind on a pro rata basis. This offers flexibility and enables individually tailored care.
Preventive care
For care level 3, 1,685 euros per year can be claimed for the replacement of a caregiver. This is a long-term care insurance benefit that enables family carers to take a break from everyday care without leaving the person in need of care unattended.
You can claim 42 days or 6 weeks of respite care per calendar year.
Short-term care
For care level 3, the care insurance fund provides EUR 1,854 per year to finance short-term care where the person concerned is temporarily cared for by a caregiver.
The short-term care is mainly used when home care is temporarily unavailable due to hospitalization or other reasons. Short-term care can be used for up to 56 days a year or 8 weeks a year.
Day and night care
The relevant care insurance fund grants a budget of 1,357 euros per month for Day and night care. Partial inpatient care provided by a care service can be a great relief for those in need of care and family carers.
With day and night care, people in need of care are cared for during the day or night on a semi-stationary basis, spending the rest of the time at home. This care system relieves the burden on family carers and offers those in need of care social contact, variety and structured daily routines.
Financing household help through relief amount
The relief amount of €131 per month is available to anyone with a care degree. Unlike the care allowance, this is not a payment that can be used freely each month, but rather a budget that can be used to pay for care and other services from recognized providers of care and respite services.
Adaptation of living space
People with care level 3 can receive up to 4,180 euros for one-off measures to adapt their living space.
This includes construction measures that adapt the living environment of people in need of care to their needs in order to support their independence and safety in their own four walls.
Adaptations are intended to remove barriers in the living space in order to ensure greater mobility.
Examples of Measures to improve the living environment:
- Installation of stair lifts or ramps
- Adaptations in the bathroom
- Make door frames wider
- Installing non-slip floor coverings
Requirements for care level 3
In order to receive care level 3, an application must be submitted to the care insurance fund. It is important that the need for care is assessed by an expert from the Medical Service of the Health Insurance (MDK) must be appointed.
Application
The application can be submitted informally to the responsible care insurance fund. However, it is advisable to enclose all relevant medical documents and findings to speed up the process so that you receive the support you are entitled to as quickly as possible.
Assessment by the MDK
An expert from the MDK visits the applicant at home to assess the need for care. All the criteria listed are taken into account. It is advisable for a trusted person to be present at this appointment to support the person in need of care and provide relevant information.
When the medical service visits, the following criteria are taken into account to assess the independence of the person concerned:
- Mobility: How independently can the person concerned move around? Can the body position be changed independently?
- Cognitive and communicative abilities: Can the person concerned orient themselves? Can decisions be made? Can the person in need of care communicate independently?
- Behavior and mental health problems: How often does the person concerned need support due to mental health problems and conspicuous behavior?
- Self-care: Is support needed in aspects such as dressing, feeding or washing? If yes, to what extent is this provided?
- Dealing with illness- or therapy-related requirements: Can the person concerned take medication prescribed by the doctor independently? Can therapy-related requirements be adhered to and carried out independently?
- Organization of everyday life and social contacts: How independently can social contacts be maintained and appointments planned and kept?
Notice from the long-term care insurance fund
After the assessment, the MDK prepares an expert opinion on the basis of which the long-term care insurance fund decides on the application. If the decision is positive, care level 3 is awarded and the corresponding benefits are granted.
In addition, if you currently have care level 2 and your care situation has deteriorated, you can apply to be upgraded to care level 3.
Aids and care aids for care level 3
Regardless of the level of care, every person who is officially and recognized as being in need of care is entitled to care aids that are necessary for their care. A distinction is made between technical care aids and care aids for consumption.
- Technical care aids: wheelchairs, walking aids, emergency call systems, care beds and much more.
- Nursing aids for consumptionBed protection pads, FFP2 masks, disposable gloves, disinfectants and much more.
Technical care aids
Technical care aids are devices or special equipment that help to make caring for people considerably easier.
Care beds
Electrically adjustable care beds facilitate the positioning, repositioning and care of patients. It offers a very high degree of flexibility and comfort.
Electrically adjustable back and leg sections allow the bed to be individually adjusted to ideally support the medical needs of the person in need of care. In addition, regularly changing positions can promote blood circulation and minimize pressure, thus optimally preventing the development of pressure ulcers.
Hoist
The hoist or patient hoist is a practical addition to everyday care that enables people in need of care to be lifted and moved safely. This care aid is particularly beneficial for caregiving relatives, who can use the device to protect themselves and avoid injuries.
The patient lift stands out due to its ease of use and helps to lift patients effortlessly into different positions.
Robust safety belts and a stable metal construction ensure that the patient can be transferred safely. Most patient lifts are also equipped with an emergency lowering function, which enables the patient to be lowered safely even in the event of a technical defect.
Wheelchair
Electric or manual wheelchairs are modern mobility aids that have been developed to offer users as much independence and comfort as possible.
Wheelchairs have a precise control system that allows them to navigate effortlessly through any space. What's more, ergonomic seats and adjustable armrests and footrests ensure a high level of comfort, while the upholstery helps to maintain a healthy posture, which is particularly beneficial for users during long periods of use.
Shower and commode chair
For people with a care level and severely restricted mobility, the shower and commode chair is an almost indispensable aid for care. Most shower and commode chairs are height-adjustable and can therefore be ideally adapted to the needs of the carer.
The deliberately robust design guarantees resilience and stability, while built-in brakes on the castors ensure that the shower and commode chair stands firmly.
Anti-decubitus mattress
Anti-decubitus mattresses are specially designed to prevent painful pressure sores by evenly distributing the pressure caused by the body.
They often consist of foam, special gel and air and thus ensure that bedridden patients in particular do not develop pressure sores.
There are also dynamically inflatable models that promote blood circulation, as the pressure can be changed continuously.
Walking aids
The term walking aid covers various devices, such as rollators, walking sticks and crutches, which help people to maintain their mobility and promote independence and autonomy.
Rollators are often equipped with wheels, brakes and a seat that allows users to take breaks, while walking sticks and crutches tend to provide lighter support in everyday life.
Care aids for consumption
Consumable care aids are important additions to everyday care. These are products that are regularly needed to support hygiene when caring for people with a care degree.
Various care aids for consumption are used regularly:
- Disposable gloves
- Incontinence products
- Disinfectant
- Wound dressings
- Bed protection pads
- Skin care products
Disposable gloves
Disposable gloves are used to maintain hygiene standards during care. The use of disposable gloves can reduce the transmission of various diseases and also reduces the risk of infection.
Incontinence products
Incontinence products include a variety of materials that can be used to support urinary and fecal incontinence. Products such as pads, pants and protective pants help to meet the needs of those affected.
Different sizes and absorbencies ensure optimum adaptability for leak-proof protection. Particularly skin-friendly materials offer protection against skin irritation.
Disinfectant
Disinfectants are extremely important to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Special disinfectants for surfaces and skin ensure that every surface is optimally cleaned of germs.
Some disinfectants contain nourishing additives to prevent additional irritation to sensitive skin.
Wound dressings
Wound dressings are special dressings and plasters that are used to cover wounds and promote the healing process. They also protect wounds from further infection.
Wound dressings are usually made of materials such as foam, hydrogel or alginate.
Bed protection pads
Bed protectors reliably protect the mattress from leaking liquids and soiling. A distinction is made between reusable and disposable bed protectors to provide an easy way to maintain hygiene in bed.
Skin care products
Skin care products are specially developed to protect and care for the sensitive skin of those in need of care. These include moisturizing creams, lotions and specific barrier creams that are designed to soothe and strengthen particularly dry and irritated skin. There are also skin care products with anti-inflammatory active ingredients that support skin regeneration.
What is a home help?
A domestic help is a person who supports you in your household, especially in carrying out daily tasks and activities. This support can cover various areas, such as cleaning your home, cooking meals, doing the laundry and shopping.
For people in need of care, senior citizens and especially relatives of people with care level 3, a home help can provide valuable relief by helping to organize everyday life and maintain independence as far as possible when everyday life becomes more and more of a challenge.
Domestic help can be hired privately or arranged through appropriate service providers. In many cases, the costs of domestic help can be partially covered by care insurance, making it easier for relatives to receive the support they need.
The use of a home help offers numerous advantages for people in need of care with care level 3 and their relatives. Firstly, it relieves the family of everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking and shopping, leaving more time for social interaction and personal care. In addition, the support provided by a home help enables those in need of care to maintain their independence for as long as possible, as they can remain in familiar surroundings.
Domestic help can also help to significantly improve quality of life by creating a safe and clean environment and improving emotional well-being. In addition, depending on the individual situation, the cost of this support can be partially covered by care insurance, which reduces the financial burden.
Home help for care level 3
A home help can be an immense relief for people in need of care and their relatives. They take on everyday tasks that are no longer manageable for those affected on their own.
Tasks of a domestic help
The tasks of a home help with care level 3 include, among other things:
- Cleaning and care of the apartment
- Purchase of food and other necessities
- Preparation of meals
- Support with laundry care
- Accompaniment to medical appointments or other important appointments
- Help with organizing everyday life and managing documents
- Providing company and entertainment
By taking on these tasks, those in need of care can concentrate on their recovery and family members are relieved, which can contribute to a better quality of life for everyone involved.
The home help can also be an important caregiver for the person in need of care and give them the feeling that they are not alone. It is therefore important to find a suitable home help that meets individual needs and requirements.
Access to home help
In order to be able to make use of domestic help, you should contact the care insurance fund. They often work together with recognized service providers. It is also possible to hire private providers, whose costs can then be covered proportionately by the care insurance fund.
