A proposal by the nursing commissioners to review the relief amount for those in need of care has met with strong criticism. The German Foundation for Patient Protection warns against paternalism and new bureaucracy.
In the debate about savings options in care, an initiative by the federal government’s nursing commissioner is causing criticism. On Saturday, Katrin Staffler spoke out at the Germany editorial network in favor of putting the so-called relief amount under greater scrutiny than before. The amount of a maximum of 131 euros per month is intended to enable those affected with care level 1 to finance help in the household.
The focus must be on “maintaining independence at home for as long as possible,” emphasized the nursing representative. The CSU politician wants to make the medical service more responsible for this. So far, the assessment only determines what level of care is present.
“In my opinion, what would not be helpful is if the money is used to have someone else clean the apartment while the person in need of care, for whom activation might be helpful, is just sitting on the couch,” Staffler added, referring to the relief amount. “This carries the risk of becoming even more immobile. Exercise is particularly important in old age to strengthen circulation and counteract muscle loss.”
The German Foundation for Patient Protection contradicted this. “Cleaning is not physiotherapy,” said the board of the German Patient Protection Foundation, Eugen Brysch. He called the care representatives’ statements hurtful to hundreds of thousands of people in need of help.
Brysch warns of “bureaucracy monsters”
With Katrin Staffler’s planned expansion of the assessment by the medical service, there is a risk of a new “bureaucratic monster,” warned Brysch. In addition, such a step restricts the autonomy of those affected. “Ultimately, those in need of care with care level 1 use the relief amount to decide for themselves about their need for support. Household help, shopping help, care offers in dementia groups, day and night care and much more go far beyond just cleaning help.”
The relief amount does not cover costs anyway. “Without personal contributions, professional support would often not be possible at all. Because the small relief amount alone is not lucrative for nursing services,” emphasized the patient advocate.
KNA/kr
