It is not uncommon for people, especially women, to care for relatives in need of care at home. Caring for a person in need of care requires a lot of strength, energy and time. Day-to-day care can be very stressful, both mentally and physically, and push family caregivers to their limits on a daily basis. Even with a support worker, regular breaks from caring should not be an exception. A relaxing vacation, a cure or rehab for family caregivers can help them to switch off, take a break from daily care and recharge their batteries for the demands of everyday life.
This is because the health and well-being of a relative is often put on the back burner when a loved one needs care, but your own health should not be disregarded. After all, only those who are fit and healthy themselves can look after the health of others.
Here you will find information on recreational opportunities for family caregivers.
Why is a cure or rehab so important for family caregivers?
Caring for a loved one is a responsible task. As a carer, you are on duty around the clock and have to be ready in emergencies. You care for your loved one and do your best to make their life easier. However, long-lasting conflicts between the person in need of care and the carer can arise due to the heavy workload and put a strain on the relationship. It is important that the family caregiver does not neglect their own mental and physical complaints and also thinks about themselves.
What is rehab?
Rehabilitation is a measure to contain an existing illness and restore health. It can therefore provide relief for an existing complaint and alleviate the pain of the caregiver. The measures are usually carried out over a period of three weeks, but rehab can also be extended if necessary. Rehabilitation involves defining goals for successful therapy. These could be as follows:
- Stress management
- Take a break from everyday care
- Increased self-confidence
- Reduce feelings of guilt
- Learning behaviors for depressive moods
During rehabilitation, the focus is on active participation. Many rehab measures such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychotherapy are on the agenda. The time after rehab is also addressed, as the rehab measure is intended to ensure that the carer's health is maintained.
What is a cure?
In contrast to a rehabilitation program, the aim of a cure is to prevent illness. Special cures for family caregivers help them to stay healthy in the long term. An individual therapy plan, which includes measures such as medical treatments, physiotherapy, individual and group discussions, movement and relaxation exercises and nutritional advice, can strengthen health and make daily care tasks less stressful. The duration of a cure is usually three weeks and can even be extended if necessary. The advantage of spa clinics is that they often have picturesque spa parks where patients can relax and recuperate. You can find a list of the most beautiful spa parks in Germany here!
Is there an entitlement to a cure or rehab for family caregivers?
Many studies show that family caregivers suffer more frequently from illnesses such as chronic back pain, mental disorders, depression or joint pain than people who do not provide care. These and other complaints can be an indication that the limits of caregiving have been reached and the caregiver needs effective support.
In addition, the heavy workload often leads to burn-out. This is usually due to the fact that there is hardly any time left to pursue hobbies or take time out in addition to caring for the relative. The carer's own needs are put on the back burner, often leaving the desire for relaxation and time out unfulfilled.
The basic regulations for entitlement to a rehabilitation measure or a cure for family caregivers are set out in §23 SGB V and §40 SGB V. The 2013 Care Reorganization Act further strengthened the rights of family caregivers. Rehabilitation for family caregivers is considered a preventive medical benefit to alleviate the burden of caregiving.
It obliges health and long-term care insurance funds to give greater consideration to the needs of caregivers with regard to rehabilitation. As a result, anyone who cares for a person in need of care and requires recuperation for medical reasons is entitled to rehabilitation measures or a cure.
Requirements for entitlement to rehab or a cure for family caregivers
One of the prerequisites for the right to rehab or a cure for family carers is that a doctor's certificate is available. However, you do not have to wait until complaints such as stress and sleep disorders are responsible for very serious illnesses. You are entitled to support even before this. Symptoms such as
- permanent exhaustion,
- Sleep disorders,
- Stomach ache,
- Heart problems,
- Back pain,
- Lack of drive,
- depressive moods,
- Joint pain,
give an indication that action should be taken and that the caregiver needs time out.
In addition, the person in need of care must have a care degree, because if the long-term care insurance fund has no information on the person in need of care, there is no entitlement to a cure or rehabilitation measure. In addition, the care situation must have existed for at least six months and be known to the long-term care insurance fund. These are the requirements for entitlement to rehabilitation or a cure.
Step-by-step guide: How to apply for a cure or rehab
The doctor's consultation
Go to your doctor and report all physical complaints in detail. Talk about your current life situation and the associated emotional stress. Don't leave out any details and take the opportunity to talk directly to the doctor. Describe your life in detail. Go into detail about any pain during or after care, sleep disorders, bad moods and headaches. The doctor will suggest a cure or other support services - if not, just ask, remember that you have the right to a cure or rehabilitation for caregiving relatives, even as a family member of a person requiring care. This means that you will initially be recommended outpatient measures in your area, such as physiotherapy or talking therapies. In addition, you may be approved for treatment in a facility that you can only visit during the day, which is often not manageable for family caregivers, so ask your doctor to confirm that an outpatient option is not appropriate and cannot be integrated into your everyday life.
Completing and submitting the application
The application for a stay in a rehabilitation center or for a cure can be requested from the statutory health insurance fund. If you need help filling out the application, you can contact care advice centers, care support centers or the health insurance company. There are also special health resort advice centers in NRW, where the doctor will justify the necessity of the measure on a prescription form. The completed application, together with a medical certificate, is then sent to the health insurance company. The health insurance company normally decides on the application within three weeks. If an additional medical certificate is required, the waiting time will be extended by approximately two weeks. If it happens that you submit your application to the health insurance fund but the pension insurance fund is actually responsible for the benefit, the health insurance fund will automatically forward the application. You will then receive your notification from the pension insurance fund.
Objection if the application is rejected
Often the cure or rehab is rejected. Don't let this discourage you because you have the option of lodging an appeal. Remember that this is your right. As a rule, the deadline for submitting an objection is four weeks.
Who will care for the person in your absence?
If the cure or rehab for family carers is approved, the question naturally arises as to who will take over the tasks that were previously carried out by the family carer. There are various options for this.
Short-term care: During short-term care, the person in need of care is cared for in a nursing home in the surrounding area for the duration of their rehabilitation or cure. From care level two care insurance covers part of the costs for care and assistance. This gives relatives the opportunity to prioritize their personal needs and leave everyday care behind for a short time.
Preventive care: The respite care takes care of the person in need of care for the duration of their stay in a rehabilitation facility or during a cure. This care support is paid for by long-term care insurance for a maximum of six weeks per year. For this, the person in need of care must be assigned at least care level two and have been cared for by you at home for at least six months.
Cure for family caregivers - outpatient or compact
Family caregivers can either take an outpatient (outpatient preventive cure) or compact (compact cure) cure. Both cures are part of the outpatient preventive care benefits provided by the health insurance fund or the medical rehabilitation benefits provided by the pension insurance fund.
The outpatient preventive cure: An outpatient preventive cure is chosen in the case of an illness for which outpatient treatment is not sufficient. After communication with the doctor, this can take place in one of 390 spas. For a duration of 2-3 weeks, there is a co-payment of €10 per calendar day.
The compact cure: For a compact cure, one of 30 specific illnesses must be present; this also takes place in one of 390 spas, but this is already predetermined by the health insurance company. The cure lasts approximately three weeks and has the same co-payment as an outpatient preventive cure: €10 per calendar day.
Rehab for family caregivers - outpatient or inpatient
Rehabilitation measures are used to restore health after operations or chronic illnesses. Here too, a distinction is made between outpatient rehab and inpatient rehab for family caregivers.
Outpatient rehab: If outpatient treatment is insufficient, outpatient rehab is suggested. This takes place in local rehabilitation clinics. Rehab for family caregivers generally lasts three weeks. If it turns out during your stay that three weeks is not enough, the doctor treating you will apply for an extension. During rehabilitation, the doctor will analyze your health complaints and define your personal goals for successful therapy. During this time, you will undergo various therapies for four to six hours a day. Here too, you will have to pay a contribution of €10 per calendar day.
Inpatient rehab: Inpatient rehab is considered if outpatient treatment or a cure is deemed inadequate. With this rehabilitation measure, the health insurance fund or pension insurance determines the rehabilitation facility and the location, but the wishes of the relative can be taken into consideration. This rehabilitation also extends over a three-week period.
Cures for children in need of care and their relatives
Especially for families who have a child with a care degree, a cure can give them a lot of strength again and strengthen them for the demanding everyday care routine. After all, it is often not possible to meet the needs of a family between all the daily obligations that await them.
There are various types of support for families in such cases:
Family rehab/children's cure: This rehabilitation measure is primarily concerned with the health of the child in need of care. It aims to prevent a deterioration in the child's state of health.
The mother-child cure / father-child cure: This type of cure gives caring parents the opportunity to take a break from their daily routines. It offers various therapies to strengthen the parent-child relationship.
Short-term living: Short-term living allows you to escape the stresses of everyday life. Short-term living offers relaxed accommodation for your child, who is cared for by remedial teachers.
How often can a cure or rehab be repeated?
Rehabilitation for carers or the cure can be repeated every four years if necessary. Exceptions are possible if there is a particular burden. A particular burden is, for example, if the person being cared for is classified as severely disabled and has to be cared for around the clock. This means that rehabilitation can also be repeated after two years.
Advantages and difficulties - cure and rehab for family caregivers
In a cure or rehab for family caregivers, the focus is on well-being and health. In day-to-day care, family caregivers often take a back seat to their relatives, which is avoided during a cure or rehab.
The benefits of a cure or rehab for family caregivers:
- You can take a break from the daily care situation.
- The focus is on your own needs.
- The complaints are treated professionally.
- Acquisition of skills to overcome stressful situations and depressive phases.
- Exchange and contact with people in a similar situation.
Difficulties with a cure or rehab for family caregivers
- Finding a suitable facility or rehabilitation clinic where you can take your relative if you wish.
- A short-term care facility or similar must be found to accommodate the person requiring care during your absence.
- the assumption of costs for rehab or the cure must be clarified. The assumption of costs for respite care must also be secured.
It is possible to seek help if you have difficulties with regard to the cure or rehabilitation. For example, the German Pension Insurance has a service hotline for medical rehabilitation. There are also various advice centers that can help you.
Vacation offers for family caregivers and people in need of care
Don't feel guilty if you think about yourself and go on vacation. Even the legislator is of the opinion that family carers also need a break to attend to their own needs.
When asked who will look after the person in need of care during this time, the answer is usually: respite care or vacation care. This will step in if you, as the family member providing care, are on vacation - for a maximum of six weeks per year. If your relative in need of care receives care allowance, half of this will continue to be paid for up to six weeks per calendar year during respite care.
Vacation in a care hotel
It is also possible to take your relative in need of care with you on vacation. This means you are always close by and can still escape the daily routine of care and enjoy a relaxing vacation without stress. In special care hotels, the care of your relative is fully or partially guaranteed by a care service. They are barrier-free and offer leisure activities that are also suitable for people with physical or mental disabilities.
The family member providing care can use the vacation to relax while the person receiving care is looked after by the care service. In addition, there are usually supervised excursions and care aids such as hoists, rollators and wheelchairs.
Financing leave for family caregivers and people in need of care
As with a conventional trip, accommodation and meals, as well as leisure and wellness activities, must be paid for by the patient. Costs arising from care provided in Germany can usually be covered by the patient's health insurance. Outside Germany, it is only possible to claim benefits under certain circumstances.
Other options for vacations with people in need of care
In addition to hotels, cruise operators also offer trips for families with people in need of care. This allows everyone involved to break out of the usual care situation, experience new things together and relax and unwind.
Similar to care hotels, there are also spa clinics that specialize in the care of dementia patients and their relatives. Caregiving relatives can take a cure together with the person in need of care and receive individual plans to help them return to everyday life feeling well rested. The costs of a cure for family caregivers and those in need of care are usually covered by health insurance.
But there are also special cures for people in need of care who do not suffer from dementia, such as the bring-with-cure - a cure for family caregivers and people in need of care. Your relative in need of care is accommodated in a short-term care facility at the spa resort so that you can enjoy the time out without any problems or restrictions.
Checklist for planning a trip with a relative in need of care
Many people want to go on vacation well prepared so that they can enjoy a smooth and stress-free time and avoid any problems.
- Inform yourself thoroughly about the care services and aids available at your vacation destination to ensure that you and your relative in need of care will want for nothing.
- Could the journey be too long and stressful for the relative?
- Gather information about the excursion and leisure activities on offer and ask yourself whether they are also suitable for people with physical and mental disabilities.
- Is there a pick-up and delivery service that you could use?
- If you would like to use the care service or home help service on site, don't forget to inform the care insurance fund and submit all the necessary applications as early as possible.
