Caregiving relatives are not integrated into any support system
Short-term care is one of the most important elements in home care to ensure that people in need of care are cared for. As a rule, short-term care is offered in inpatient care facilities. Due to the shortage of skilled workers, it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the growing demand for care places and other care services. 83 percent of people in need of care in Baden-Württemberg are cared for at home - the majority of them exclusively by relatives. However, caregiving relatives are not integrated into a support system that can ensure the care of those in need of care in overload situations or in the event of incapacity. For this reason, family members need support in developing suitable self-care strategies and in integrating outside help.
Model project pursues several goals and basic ideas
The model project "Care time-out" promotes the realization of short-term home care and the associated time-out for caregiving relatives. Several goals and basic ideas are to be pursued: The assumption of care and nursing responsibilities often leads to the relatives' own health suffering; the target group of the project are people in need of help or care and their relatives who need support in organizing a plannable time-out in order to be able to take advantage of the relief provided for under long-term care insurance; the project aims to take a holistic view, focusing on the basic idea of ambulantization and the concept of strengthening existing potential; An advice center will be set up to develop and implement needs-oriented individual short-term care models - the relatives themselves determine who belongs to their personal network of trust; digital and analog information, advice and training services are to be developed and made available to all those involved; in addition, digital services such as apps or platforms are to be developed and set up so that new forms of cooperation in the sense of a sharing community are created. Together with the Ministry of Social Affairs, the district is breaking new ground with this innovative project and investing in improving the care infrastructure, which directly benefits family caregivers and meets the desire of those in need of care for self-determination.
State covers 90 percent of the total costs
The "Pflegeauszeit" project has been included in the Baden-Württemberg state's Care 2023 innovation program. It will run until September 30, 2026 and the funding amounts to 411,300 euros, which is 90 percent of the total costs. The district's own contribution is covered by the personnel costs of the specialist advice service for the elderly. There are no further costs for the district. Two employees with a total of 1.5 full-time positions are planned for the project. Talks are still being held at the level of the towns and municipalities regarding cooperation. The results of the project will again be scientifically documented.
