With home care, the main thing is that the persons in need of care can remain as long as possible in their home or familiar environment. Therefore, the care insurance supports measures to improve the individual living environment.
The care insurance not only supports the home care of those affected, but also promotes conversion measures of the apartment, which allow better care. We show in the following article what requirements for such support are necessary and what benefits the care insurance includes.
Benefits of care insurance
For people in need of care who would rather be cared for at home and in their familiar surroundings instead of in a nursing home, care insurance offers some subsidies. If, for example, structural changes in the home of the affected person are necessary, one can apply for a financial subsidy. Normally, however, only major interventions in the building kit are subsidized. In addition to door widening, for example, the installation of a stair lift is also supported by care insurance.
Furthermore, those in need of care can also turn to the care insurance when it comes to the installation or removal of furniture (e.g. the installation of a shower tray suitable for long-term care). In addition, the benefit of care insurance also includes a move to an apartment suitable for people in need of care.
However, the following rule applies: all measures that are required at the time the subsidy is granted, based on the need for assistance existing at that time, are considered an improvement measure. This also applies if the individual measures are carried out one after the other in time.
The requirements for a grant
As a rule, a care insurance subsidy is only granted if one of the following prerequisites is met:
- The home care can be made possible at all by a subsidy
- There is an excessive demand on the person in need of care or the caregiver
- The dependence on the caregiver is to be reduced in favor of the person concerned
- The independent lifestyle of the person in need of care is at risk
Before applying for a subsidy from the care insurance, however, you should inform yourself in detail and then describe the responsible insurance company as accurately as possible the problems at hand. It may be that the care insurance on the spot would like to get a picture of the current circumstances.
Amount of the subsidies
For each improvement measure, the care insurance company grants a subsidy of a maximum of 4,000 €. This subsidy is available to persons in need of care in any case, regardless of the respective classification of care degrees. In addition, verifiable preparatory actions are also taken into account, such as material costs, fees incurred as well as invoices from commissioned companies, among other things. However, only those expenses that are directly related to the improvement of the care situation can be taken into account.
The procedure for applying for grants
Generally, whoever wants to apply for a grant for the improvement of the living environment from the care insurance should do so in any case before the necessary measures are started. This application can be made informally in most cases, but it is advisable to clarify this in advance with the responsible care insurance. The necessity of the measures is then determined by the medical service of the care insurance on site. Only then can an application for a financial subsidy be approved.
If a subsidy is possible, the person concerned will be informed of this by the care insurance company. However, the final amount of the subsidy can only be determined once the insurance company has received all the final invoices. In any case, at least one cost estimate is necessary to be able to apply for a subsidy. It is also advisable to deal with the care insurance in advance, so that any questions can be clarified at the outset.
Application for subsidy of a stairlift
The purchase and installation of a new stairlift can cost between 3,000 and 15,000 €, depending on the model and special services. Although you can apply for a subsidy from the health or care insurance for the new acquisition, but there are some important points to note here in terms of the correct application. In addition to the correct wording, the various formal procedures must also be taken into account. We show what you have to pay attention to when submitting an application.
Even before submitting the actual application for a subsidy to the care insurance, there are some points to consider. For example, you should apply in advance for a nursing degree from the respective care insurance fund. Furthermore, the health or care insurance requires a cost estimate, which includes not only the purchase price of the stairlift, but also its installation. Only in this way can the insurance company calculate the preliminary amount of the subsidy.
In addition, one must apply for the application for “Financial subsidy for the improvement of the individual living environment” at the respective care insurance company and return it filled out.
Sample application for download – Application for a grant to improve the living environment.
Another option is the so-called informal application. This must also be submitted to the care insurance fund and formulated so that the need for the living environment improvement measure is clear. Therefore, in addition to the clinical picture, you should also explain why you need the stairlift.
Application for measure to improve the individual living environment.
Dear Sir or Madam,
due to my state of health and the classification in the care degree XXX, I hereby apply according to §40 Abs. 4 SGB XI a subsidy for the installation of a stairlift in the context of the measures for the improvement of the individual living environment. Due to my medical condition it is no longer possible for me to safely climb stairs under my own power. For these reasons, and because my family members cannot permanently support me when climbing stairs, I am absolutely dependent on a mobility aid in the form of a stair lift.
Enclosed with this letter you will find a cost estimate from the company XXX for the purchase and installation of a stair lift. Due to the urgency, I ask for the fastest possible processing of my request. I thank you in advance and remain with kind regards
Your signature.
Likewise, it can’t hurt to include some photos of the current space situation as well as a cost estimate along with some comparison quotes. One should note however that a promotion is limited at present to up to 4,000 euro per measure. Which measures are that in particular, one should inquire if possible already in the apron with its health and/or care insurance. In addition, you can get help from the stairlift provider with the application. However, you should clarify in the first consultation whether this service is actually offered.
My parents had a curved stair lift installed at their own expense in 2012. Since this will soon no longer be needed, I would like to sell it. How do I proceed, who do I contact? Sincerely