Apply for nursing courses for family caregivers and caregivers during care leave
If you would like to care for relatives or provide home care on a voluntary basis, you can take part in courses and training courses offered by the long-term care insurance. You apply for participation at your nursing care fund. The nursing care insurance is affiliated to your statutory health insurance, so you can use the same contact details.
The free courses provide you with the necessary knowledge and correct steps to carry out home care independently. They should give you security in dealing with people in need of care.
There are 2 forms of nursing courses:
- Group nursing courses
- Care insurance funds and other institutions such as social stations or adult education centres offer general, public courses for several participants. The courses can take place on-site or online.
- Nursing training in the home
- A professional specialist comes to the home of the person in need of care and shows you on site, for example, correct lifting. The training takes into account your spatial conditions and individual situation.
In addition to basic courses, there are free special courses on certain diseases, such as dementia, Parkinson's, stroke or the care of children in need of care. In the courses, you will learn nursing measures that are geared to the specific clinical pictures.
The contents of the courses are specified by the nursing care fund. The contents are:
- Practical care, for example helpful hand movements, nutrition in old age or handling medication
- Self-care, e.g. back-friendly lifting and carrying, dealing with mental stress, preventive and short-term care
- Legal and social issues, for example childcare law and what other assistance you can use
- Hygiene, for example help with personal hygiene and hygiene measures in the home environment of those in need of care
Process flow
You can, for example, submit the application for reimbursement of costs for a nursing course by post and – in the case of many care insurance funds – hand it in personally at the office or submit it online.
- Inquire about nursing courses at your nursing care fund, at a nursing base or a municipal provider.
- Select a nursing course and book your participation directly through the organizer.
- Download the form for participation in a nursing course from the website of your nursing care fund.
- Fill out the form and send it to your nursing care fund.
Some providers of nursing courses settle the participation directly with the care insurance funds. In this case, you do not have to submit a form to your nursing care fund.
Requirements
Participation in a nursing course is independent of whether
- you are already engaged in a nursing activity,
- the cared for person is in need of care within the meaning of the social long-term care insurance,
- are already receiving outpatient care services and
- is a member of the social long-term care insurance.
In order to cover the costs of nursing training in the home, the person to be cared for must be able to claim care. In the case of home care training, you need the written consent of the person in need of care.
Which documents are required?
As a rule, no documentation is required. Please check with your nursing care insurance fund whether it requires additional documents in individual cases.
What are the fees?
The application and also the participation in a nursing course or a nursing training are free of charge for you.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
You do not have to meet any deadlines.
Processing duration
Processing usually takes about 3 to 7 working days.
For a quick processing and decision, your nursing care fund must have the necessary information and, if necessary, necessary documents complete and meaningful.
The nursing care fund decides on applications promptly.
Please note that the stated processing time is an average value of all care insurance funds. It may vary in individual cases.
The exact processing time also depends on the complexity of the individual case and can be extended accordingly. The same applies if documents or documents are sent by post to you or your nursing care fund.
Applications / forms
- Forms: yes
- Online procedure possible: Many care insurance companies offer an online procedure.
- Written form required: yes
- Personal appearance required: no
Appeal
- Contradiction
- Action before the Social Court
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Health
Professionally released on
22.11.2021
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
