Caring for relatives or people who are dependent on support can be a demanding task. Care aids play a crucial role in facilitating the care process, relieving the burden on family caregivers and improving the quality of life of those in need of care. In this article, we would like to provide you with a comprehensive overview of care aids, their definition, differences to aids and the various product groups into which they are divided.
What are care aids?
Care aids are listed in the list of aids of the statutory health and care insurance funds or in the aids catalog of the private insurance funds. They are indispensable aids for home care and enable a better quality of life for those in need of care. The legal basis for the assumption of costs by the health insurance funds can be found in Section 40 of the eleventh book of the German Social Code (SGB XI).
There are two main categories of care aids:
- Technical care aids: These include products such as care beds, care bed accessories, special reclining care wheelchairs, (electric) wheelchairs and other devices that make care easier.
- Care aids for consumption: These include hygiene products for single use, such as bed protection pads, abdominal aprons, disinfectants for skin/hands, disinfectants for surfaces and face masks.
The care insurance funds generally cover the costs of technical care aids as a loan, while care aids for consumption are reimbursed up to EUR 42 per month.
The difference to aids
The terms assistive devices and care aids are often used interchangeably, but there are significant differences. Assistive products are used to compensate for or prevent disabilities or to contribute to the success of treatment. They must be medically necessary and based on a doctor's prescription. Examples include hearing aids, prostheses and wheelchairs.
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Care aids, on the other hand, make home care easier and do not require a doctor's prescription, but a recognized care degree and an application to the care insurance fund. These can be, for example, care beds, positioning aids, lifting devices or emergency call systems can be.
The product groups at a glance
The technical care aids and care aids for consumption are divided into different product groups:
- PG 50: Care aids to facilitate care: This includes technical care aids such as care beds with accessories and special reclining care wheelchairs.
- PG 51: Care aids for personal care / hygiene and relief of discomfort: This group includes products such as washing systems, shower trolleys, urine bottles, reusable bed protection pads and positioning rollers.
- PG 52: Care aids for more independent living / mobility: Here you will find emergency call systems and aids for everyday life.
- PG 54: Care aids intended for consumption: These are hygiene products for single use, including bed protection pads, disinfectants for surfaces and hands, disposable gloves and face masks.
Conclusion on care aids
Care aids play a crucial role in home care by facilitating care and improving the quality of life of those in need of care. It is important to understand that they are different from aids and do not require a doctor's prescription. The various product groups offer a wide range of solutions to meet individual needs and optimize care. The assumption of costs by the care insurance funds makes the procurement of care aids affordable and accessible for many people.
