Organizing Care in Bochum

Before applying for anything: Keep a care diary! Document daily life for at least 7-14 days – mobility, personal hygiene, memory, behaviors. Without this documentation you'll lose money later.

Submit the application to your care insurance (= your health insurance). The application can be informal – a short call or letter is enough. From the day of application you're entitled to benefits!

After the application, an assessor from MDK (Medical Service) or Medicproof will come to your home. This assessment decides the care level! Preparation is crucial.

You'll receive a decision with the care level. Check carefully: Is the care level too low? Then file an appeal within 1 month! It's often worth it.

Now comes the core financial decision: Care allowance (if relatives provide care) or benefits in kind (if a care service comes). A combination is also possible!

Now daily life begins: Find care service, apply for aids, adapt apartment. Much is paid by care insurance!

€125 monthly relief amount is available to you – almost always forgotten! Plus: Respite care and short-term care for breaks.

Caring relatives have special rights at work: Care leave, family care leave, time off. Your employer must make this possible!

In Bochum the city offers free senior and care advice at 6 Seniorenbueros in the city districts (Mitte, Wattenscheid, Nord, Ost, Suedwest, Sued) - home visits available. Central contact: senior telephone of the city at 0234 910-2844. Additionally your care insurance fund is legally required to offer advice.

When care at home is no longer possible: Nursing home or short-term care. Care insurance pays a part, but a personal contribution remains.

Anyone with care grade 4 or 5, or a disability degree of 50 or more, can apply for a severely disabled person's pass. Responsible for Bochum is the Joint Pension Office of Dortmund, Bochum and Hagen (based in Dortmund). Get application forms at the Bochum Buergerbuero, submit them to the Dortmund pension office. Alternatively: online application via ELSA.NRW (Bezirksregierung Muenster).

Statutory long-term care insurance covers on average only about 50% of actual care costs. Supplementary care insurance closes the gap and prevents relatives from having to cover the costs.