Care level 4 in Germany

Kathrin's father was suddenly unable to get out of bed on his own. Every movement was difficult for him and the family quickly realized that he could no longer manage without extensive support. He was awarded care level 4, but what does that mean? What help is he entitled to? And how does it affect him?

When Kathrin's father was still healthy, he loved working in the garden. But over the years, everything became more difficult. At first, it was just little things - a pair of shears that he could no longer hold properly or a step that seemed too high.

Then came the day when he could no longer stand up on his own after a fall. From then on, things happened quickly: he needed help with washing, dressing and even eating.

For Kathrin and her family, one thing was clear: they couldn Maintenance cannot do it alone. But where to start? What support is available and how do you apply for it?

The term "care level 4" first came up when a care advisor explained to them that he was entitled to extensive benefits due to his high need for assistance. But what requirements must be met? How does the assessment work? And what financial support is available?

In this article, you can find out everything you need to know about care level 4 in Germany - from the criteria to the application to the specific benefits that relieve those affected and their relatives.

What is care level 4? - A clear definition and classification

Kathrin saw her father sitting on the sofa, staring off into space. In the past, he would have been standing in the garden long ago, with soil on his hands and a smile on his face. Now he found it difficult even to reach for his coffee cup. The question that Kathrin couldn't let go of: What exactly does it mean when someone receives care level 4?

Definition of care level 4

Care level 4 is assigned to people who have a severe impairment of independence. This means that they are dependent on extensive help in almost all areas of daily life - be it with personal hygiene, eating or walking. Their own mobility is severely restricted, and mental or communicative abilities can also be affected.

What does "most severe impairment of independence" mean?

Kathrin's father could no longer manage many things on his own. He needed help getting up in the morning because his legs were too weak. 

Kathrin helped him eat because his hands often shook. Even simple conversations became difficult because he sometimes didn't have the words. It is precisely these severe limitations that are decisive for classification in care level 4.

For care level 4, there must therefore be severe impairments in several areas of life, some of which occur simultaneously. These include dependency in mobility, inability to care for oneself, severe cognitive and communicative impairments and the need for support with incontinence.

Prerequisites: Who gets care level 4?

Kathrin still remembered the day she received the news that her father had now officially been assigned care level 4. She had already thought so, but when the decision finally came, it was a load off her mind.

But how is it actually decided whether someone receives care level 4? What are the requirements and how does the assessment procedure work?

Medical and social requirements

Classification to care level 4 does not just happen. There are clear medical and social requirements that must be met. Not only the physical, but also the mental and psychological condition of the person concerned is taken into account. 

In Kathrin's case, it was the combination of physical weakness, memory problems and the inability to cope with everyday tasks that led to the decision. Her family could not cope with this burden alone - comprehensive support was necessary.

What is checked in the review process?

A reviewer of the Medical Service of the Health Insurance (MDK) or the Medicproof GmbH (for privately insured persons) checks how severely the independence of the person concerned is impaired. This is done on the basis of various areas of life:

These questions help the assessor to get a meaningful picture of the person's support needs.

The review process

All areas of life are assessed by the MDK or Medicproof assessor on the basis of points. The more help the person concerned needs, the higher the score. And the higher the score, the more severe the impairment - and the higher the level-of-care. 

For care level 4, the impairments must be so severe that the person concerned is no longer able to cope with everyday life without help. This corresponds to 70 to under 90 points.

What benefits does care level 4 include? - An overview

With the classification in care level 4, a lot has changed for Kathrin and her father. They now knew that they would have to rely on a variety of Support Services to cope with everyday life and give him the best possible care. The financial support was a first step, but the help went even further.

In the following overview you can see which services are included in care level 4:

Care allowance - A financial support

With the care allowance of 800 euros a month, Kathrin was able to cover quite a bit. It helped her to reduce the financial burden of care and cover some necessary expenses such as additional care aids or transportation costs. The care allowance is paid directly to the person concerned and can be used flexibly.

Care services - Professional support

The amount of 1.859 euros for care benefits in kind was used to finance professional support from an outpatient care service. The carers helped Kathrin's father with personal hygiene, dressing and many other things that he could no longer manage on his own. This support was essential for the family to meet their daily care needs.

Preventive care and short-term care - relief for the family

When family caregivers need a break or the carer is absent, those affected can fall back on respite care or short-term care. An annual amount of €1,685 is available for respite care and up to €1,854 per year for short-term care.

More reliefs

There were many other benefits that helped Kathrin and her father. The relief amount of 131 euros per month was used to buy care aids such as mobility aids and care products. The subsidy for day and night care amounting to 1,685 euros per month supported the family when more intensive care was needed.

The technical care aids, such as a home emergency call, offered security and support in everyday life. Kathrin could be reassured that her father could quickly call for help in an emergency.

These benefits made caring for Kathrin's father much easier and enabled him to live with dignity in his familiar surroundings. But even though the financial relief helped, it was above all the personal attention and love that made everyday life more worth living for her father.

Application and assessment procedure - The path to care level 4

In order to get the support Kathrin needed for her father, she first had to deal with the care degree application. This step was challenging, but she knew it was the key to getting the benefits she needed. The application was the first step on the way to better care and more relief for her family.

Step 1: The application

The path to care level 4 began with the formal application. Kathrin submitted this to her father's care insurance company. It was a simple application, but the significance behind it was great - after all, it was about a change in her father's life that meant not only financial support, but also help in everyday life.

The application was the starting signal for everything that was to follow. The exact date of the application was important because, if approved, the care degree would apply retroactively from that date.

In some cases, such as Kathrin's, an urgent application could be helpful to obtain a preliminary assessment more quickly - especially if the need for care was very acute. In this case, a provisional care assessment can be carried out within just 5 or 10 days.

For Kathrin, the first step alone was a relief because she knew that she was now officially seeking help and would get it.

Step 2: The expert opinion

After making an appointment, the care assessor came to Kathrin's father's home. The assessor closely observed how her father moved around, talked to Kathrin about the difficulties her father had in everyday life and asked him questions to get an accurate picture of the care situation. 

Kathrin felt relieved during the interview that someone had grasped the reality of her daily stress so precisely. The assessor explained that he not only took into account the physical limitations, but also the mental and cognitive impairments that were just as challenging for her father.

After the assessment, Kathrin knew that everything she observed and experienced would now be included in the calculation of her care level. She felt heard and understood - an important reassurance at a time that was characterized by uncertainty.

Step 3: The notification

After the assessment was completed, Kathrin waited anxiously for the decision from the long-term care insurance company. The decision finally came a few weeks later - and with it the confirmation that her father had been awarded care level 4. 

This news was a moment of relief and joy. At last Kathrin had the certainty that the necessary support was now officially assured.

The notice also gave Kathrin the feeling that she had done everything right. She had not left her father alone and had sought the help he needed. And now the relief provided by care allowance, benefits in kind and other support measures was also tangible.

Tips for applying for care level 4

The road to care level 4 can sometimes seem long and challenging, but with a few simple tips you can make the Application make it much easier. Here is some advice that will help you:

• Be well prepared: Take the time to make a detailed note of your loved one's care needs. Every little thing they need help with counts - whether it's getting dressed, eating or getting out of bed.
• Document everyday life: Record how many hours a day help is needed and which activities are particularly difficult. This documentation will give you a clear picture that you can present in your application.
• Full proposal: Make sure that the application contains all the important information so that no valuable details are overlooked.
• Get help: If you are unsure how to fill out the application, don't hesitate to get support from a care service or an expert. They can guide you through the entire process.
• Put early: Submit the application as early as possible. This will ensure that the benefits are paid retroactively as soon as they are approved.

With this preparation, you are well equipped to submit the application successfully.

What to do if the application is rejected or the result is unsatisfactory?

Sometimes things don't go the way you want them to. If your application for care level 4 is rejected or the result does not meet your expectations, there is still hope. Here's what you can do:

• File an objection: Don't be discouraged - you can appeal the decision within 30 days. Explain exactly why you think the classification is wrong.
• Collect evidence: If you feel that important information has not been included, submit additional medical reports or supporting documents that better reflect your or your loved one's care needs.
• Seeking the conversation:Contact the long-term care insurance company and ask for an explanation. Sometimes it helps to simply clarify what led to the decision and how you can proceed.
• Judicial clarification: If the objection is unsuccessful, you still have the option of going to court to assert your claims.

Don't be discouraged - there is always a way, and you are fighting for the best care for your loved one. The road to the right level of care can be rocky, but you are not alone.

Finding the right caregiver with noracares

After Kathrin received care level 4 for her father, she knew that she urgently needed support in everyday life. She came across noracares and was immediately impressed by the quick and easy way to find a suitable carer. 

Kathrin registered and quickly found the ideal caregiver to lovingly look after her father.

Why Noracares?

• Individual Matching System: noracares uses an intelligent system that takes into account not only the qualifications of the caregivers, but also the needs and wishes of Kathrin and her father. As a result, a caregiver was found who fits in perfectly with their everyday lives.
• Tailor-made solutions:Unlike traditional agencies, where standard solutions are often offered, noracares ensures that the support is individually tailored to Kathrin's father. There are no compromises - only the best solution for her family.
• Direct and uncomplicated: At noracares, there are no intermediary agencies in between. Kathrin was able to contact the caregiver directly, which ensured transparency and trust. This allowed her to decide for herself who would look after her father.
• The focus is on people: Caregivers at noracares are selected not only for their professional qualifications, but also for their personality and empathy. Because only those who understand each other well can provide really good care.

Kathrin has found the perfect caregiver for her father - and you can too! Start your search with noracares today and find the caregiver that fits your needs exactly.

At the end of the long walk, Kathrin stood with her father in the sun shining through the window. Her father, who used to be full of energy and zest for life, was now sitting in his armchair, but the smile Kathrin gave him was full of gratitude and love.

The path to recognition of care level 4 was not an easy one, but it had given them both new perspectives and hope. "Dad, it's all getting a bit easier now," Kathrin whispered and took his hand. The care services they were able to take advantage of made everyday life more bearable, giving them the chance to focus on the good times again - like the afternoon on the balcony together that they had enjoyed so often in the past.

With care level 4, her father had finally received the support he needed, and Kathrin knew it had been the right step. She had not been afraid to seek help, and this help was more than just financial. It was the path to a dignified and loving life for her father, a life in which he was not alone despite the challenges of age and illness.

And Kathrin could finally see her place as a daughter from a new perspective again - no longer as the sole support, but as someone who can also count on a strong community of supporters.

You too can offer your loved ones the best care. At noracares you will find experienced caregivers who are individually tailored to your needs. Register now at noracares and get the support your family deserves!