Don’t let caregivers down
Patient advocates are calling for more care money
May 12, 2024, 4:31 a.m
Many people care for their relatives at home. This is a huge relief for geriatric care, but is often difficult to cope with financially for those affected. According to the German Foundation for Patient Protection, a tax-financed “care time allowance” could be an enormous support.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection is calling for more financial support for care in families at home. “Without this strenuous commitment of the mostly female relatives, geriatric care would have collapsed long ago,” said board member Eugen Brysch on the occasion of Carers’ Day on Sunday. “So that the federal government can help immediately, the care allowance must be increased immediately and across the board by 300 euros.” This creates breathing room in view of the increased cost of living. For working people, a tax-financed “care time allowance” is overdue, which functions like parental allowance for mothers and fathers after the birth.
A reform by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, which has been in effect since the beginning of the year, already provides relief for the four million people in need of care at home. The care allowance, which was last increased in 2017, rose by five percent. It is free to use, for example for care. If employees have to take care of close relatives and therefore do not go to work, they can apply for wage replacement benefits. This is now possible for up to ten working days per year; previously it was only ten working days per person in need of care.
Brysch criticized the government for continuing to abandon those in need of care at home and their relatives. “Ultimately, it shifts responsibility and burdens onto Germany’s largest nursing service.” Many families are at an end mentally, physically and financially. A legal right to preventive and short-term care is therefore also necessary. These generally serve to ensure that care is provided when relatives cannot provide it.