Many senior citizens lack the strength and energy to carry out everyday tasks themselves as they get older. These can include household chores, organizational tasks such as visits to the doctor or visits to the authorities. For senior citizens and their relatives, this problem can make hourly care a valuable help.
Learn more about the costs and financing options for hourly senior care and which service providers might be suitable here!
Hourly senior care: what is it?
Hourly care is temporary support for senior citizens. It is particularly useful for older people who do not require full-time care but still need support and help in everyday life because they still live at home and not in a care home or similar.
However, hourly care by a senior caregiver offers even more than just taking care of various tasks, it also enables seniors to have new social interactions, allowing them to maintain social contacts even though their family and relatives do not live nearby, thus preventing loneliness and depression in old age.
Definition of hourly senior care
A senior's life can change from one day to the next. This could be triggered by a stroke or an accident, for example.
Many senior citizens do not need 24-hour care to begin with, let alone inpatient care. In most cases, small assistance in everyday life are sufficient to enable those affected to cope with everyday life.
This is because, unlike 24-hour care or short-term care, care provided by a caregiver or an everyday helper only takes place for a few hours a week or a day.
The everyday companions pay regular visits to the people and then help with the household, shopping and keep them company.
This is because not only household chores, but also the organization of everyday life becomes more and more demanding in old age and regularly presents the senior citizens concerned with new challenges.
Qualification of the caregiver
The caregiver or everyday companion is a trained carer who therefore provides professional support. This form of care has officially existed since 2008.
There are therefore specific requirements that are taught as part of a qualification measure. The special qualification is regulated by law in SGB XI and specializes the caregiver to be a support in the everyday life of seniors. elderly people.
The training includes comprehensive information on typical diseases that occur in old age, care and strategies for gentle care, care documentation, household and nutritional sciences.
Another focus is on sensitizing the caregiver to interpersonal challenges. They are taught special empathy so that they can develop a good rapport with the client and also provide social support for people with dementia.
Hourly senior care services
In addition to general care, senior caregivers can provide a wide range of services. care , providing support in everyday life, keeping seniors company, and offering entertainment.
This includes the following tasks:
- Help with shopping
- Accompaniment to doctor's appointments, appointments with authorities or other appointments
- Support with physical limitations
- Dementia care
- Conversations and conversations
- Occupation through handicrafts, games, walks
- Reading together
- Memory work (labeling pictures, biographical work)
- Exercise programs
- Leisure activities, promoting stamina and travel support
- Care, help with basic care and personal hygiene
What does hourly senior care cost?
Since December 1, 2023, the minimum minimum wage for care assistants has been €14.15 per hour. This amount should therefore be expected as a minimum when hiring trained caregivers.
The pricing usually depends on the provider and can vary greatly. There is a distinction between all-inclusive prices, which range from €15-45 per hour of childcare.
However, you can obtain various offers and compare them first before deciding on a service provider, and there are also various financing options.
Although the price is an important factor when deciding on a caregiver, it should not be ignored that the chemistry between you and the caregiver is right, take your time with your decision and don't just choose the first provider that comes along.
Financing of hourly care for the elderly through care insurance benefits
If you have a recognized care degree, there are various options available to you for financing hourly care for the elderly.
- The relief amount
- Preventive care
- Day care
- Care allowance
Financing senior care via the relief amount
People with a recognized care level 1-5 are entitled to at least €131 per month for care and respite services. People in need of care are entitled to higher rates as the level of care increases. This means that the relief amount can be used to finance hourly care at home.
The prerequisite for this is that the caregiver is recognized by the respective state law.
Senior care via respite care
Another option for financing care for the elderly is the budget for respite care. However, care provided on a daily basis (more than eight hours a day) may result in a reduction in the care allowance. You should discuss this in advance with the responsible care insurance fund.
Financing senior care via day care
In addition to the care allowance, day care is a monthly benefit. From care level 2, it is possible to use this support to finance part of the costs of inpatient day care. As a rule, hourly care is possible in these facilities.
Hourly senior care financed via the care allowance
If the budget for respite care and the respite allowance is not sufficient, you are of course still free to use the care allowance. This is not earmarked for a specific purpose and can be used freely.
Which providers offer senior care by the hour?
There are various service providers for hourly senior care who offer this service on an inpatient basis or at home. Find out more about the various senior care providers here.
Hourly care for the elderly in day care
Day care facilities offer good relief for relatives.
They accommodate people in need of care for just a few hours a day and offer a good way of structuring everyday life.
Elderly care via the outpatient care service
Outpatient care services specialize in finding caregivers. This means that one of their tasks is to find a caregiver for a person in need of care.
Senior care by independent everyday companions
Independent everyday helpers also often offer hourly care. Everyday companions work both in care homes and in the home environment.
Voluntary senior care
Senior citizens are often accompanied as part of a voluntary activity with a church organization or neighbourhood help.
Care for the elderly with dementia
Caregivers are particularly important for senior citizens with dementia particularly useful. Not only are they a great help for those affected, but home care or care in special groups can also provide special support for family and relatives.
The care services usually consist of activating activities led by a specialist.
Remuneration of relatives for hourly care
If the caregiver is a relative, many of the people being cared for would like to pay them a fair wage. The resulting costs can be covered by the care allowance.
Since the care allowance is available to everyone from care level 2 and is receiving care at home, no special qualification of the relative needs to be proven.
If the relative is to be paid via the relief amount, this is only possible if the relative works for a recognized institution, such as Neighbourhood Help.
Arguments for and against hourly care for the elderly
In general, it can be said that hourly care for the elderly does not have to be bad, but can simply be perceived as inadequate.
In order to be able to assess your own needs or those of your relative, you should not shy away from seeking professional care advice into consideration.
The living situation is also an important factor. Do relatives and friends live far away? Do they visit regularly for help? Are relatives and friends unable to visit regularly? Are there neighbors?
All of these are factors that can indicate whether hourly senior care is sufficient, or whether day care, 24-hour care, or a nursing home is needed.
There are also senior citizens' groups that promote social contacts and ensure that they no longer have to feel lonely.
However, the regular visits of the caregivers lead to a close and personal relationship and the opportunity to pay attention to individual needs. Each task and task completion can be adapted, as the caregivers are able to focus on just one person.
Last but not least, hourly care for senior citizens also offers relief for relatives. Caring for and helping a relative can take up a lot of time, which is often lacking. Senior caregivers offer family members a time-out that they can organize without obligations and constant availability.
Advantages and disadvantages of hourly senior care - an overview
Advantages
- Individual support
- Flexible customization
- A personal relationship can develop
- the state of mind and activity of those in need of care can improve
- Relatively inexpensive
- Relief for family caregivers
Disadvantages
- It may be that the hourly care is only inadequate
- there is no integration within a group
Conclusion - Hourly care for senior citizens
Hourly care can be a great help for a senior in need of care, as caregivers take on various tasks, provide care services, do the shopping, take care of hygiene, accompany to doctor's appointments and many other things in a senior's life to help them reintegrate into society, among other things.
The strength of a caregiver also relieves the burden on relatives and brings variety into the life of the person concerned.
The long-term care insurance fund offers various benefits to finance hourly care, if a recognized care degree is available, the costs for the care do not have to be borne by the patient, as this could be a challenge for many.
It can therefore be said that hourly care is extremely advisable if a care home or assisted living is not yet considered necessary and the senior would prefer to and can still live in their own home and familiar surroundings.
However, if it is perceived that the hourly care is insufficient, a more suitable solution should be sought to provide the senior with long-term support from other caregivers.
