Loving and competent all-round support

When people become what is called a "care case", when they are unable to cope on their own with their lives, yes, even with the simplest chores necessary for survival, what most of them want, particularly at this stage of their life, is to be allowed to remain in a familiar environment, in their own home, with familiar people.  A challenge, however, that is often beyond the capabilities of relatives or presents too great a burden. The loving and competent care of those who need it is - from the word go and around the clock - a full-time job which requires a high degree of expertise, experience, and empathy.

Assistance with meals and drinks

No longer being able to eat and drink independently , whilst living at home in dignity and still being involved with people and things in a familiar and trusted environment: independent caregivers make this possible, because they help those requiring care with meals and drinks in a thoughtful, patient, and competent way.

Preparation for a change of scenery

The tasks of independent caregivers also include preparing the person requiring care for a change of location as needed, such as a hospital stay or a check-up in a hospital or a visit to a rehabilitation or recovery facility. This is done with the empathy and care professional ethics requires. 

Assistance in taking medication and applying dressings and bandages

Independent caregivers help the person requiring care to the best of their knowledge and belief to take medicines and to apply and change dressings and bandages. However, this type of assistance may only be performed according to written doctor's orders with guidance and instruction by a healthcare professional (doctor, qualified nurse).

Preparing dressings and bandages

Documentation required: the delegation of nursing and medical activities must be documented by a medical professional . The independent caregiver is also required to document the activities entrusted to them adequately and regularly. Information required: the caregiver must immediately inform the responsible person of everything that may be of importance for this delegation. This applies in particular to a change in the condition of the person requiring care or an interruption of the care provided. Inspection obligation: implementing the delegated nursing and medical activities should be regularly checked by medical professionals.

Assistance with dressing and undressing

Independent caregivers assist with everything the person requiring care may need in their daily life. This includes dressing and undressing. As long as no medical reasons to the contrary exist, this can be done without professional supervision.

Assistance with personal hygiene and going to the toilet

Independent caregivers are ready to give round- the- clock help to customers who are severely restricted in their capabilities, day after day, hour after hour. If necessary and on request, this means that they also help with personal hygiene and going to the toilet. As long as no medical reasons to the contrary exist, this can be done without professional supervision.

Help with getting up, sitting down, lying down, turning over, and walking

People who are massively impaired in their mobility and capabilities need help and competent assistance with all the activities and requirements of daily life. Independent caregiving ensures that people receive the support that allows them to live in dignity and contentment. Independent caregivers provide assistance with getting up, lying down, sitting down, and walking. If there are no medical reasons to the contrary, they may carry out these services without professional supervision and guidance.

Assistance when changing incontinence products

People who can no longer go to the toilet need their caregiver to be a competent and patient helper. They assist with using the toilet or commode, as well as helping to change incontinence products.  However, the latter may only be performed according to a doctor's orders with instructions and training carried out by healthcare professionals.

Ongoing monitoring of their overall condition and longer term cyclical supervision

If the overall health of a person requiring care deteriorates, independent caregivers will immediately provide first aid or emergency measures, call a doctor or ambulance, and inform family members.

Nursing and medical activities

Delegation of nursing and medical activities means the transfer of nursing or medical activities to caregivers. This requires not only a written order, but also guidance and instruction by a healthcare professional (doctor, qualified nurse).

Requirements

The following requirements must be met for the delegation of nursing and medical activities:
The delegation of nursing and medical activities may only be carried out in individual cases.
Nursing and medical activities may be performed only if the independent caregiver is constantly or at least regularly present in the household for prolonged periods.
A maximum of three people who must be related to each other can be cared for per household. 
Written consent must be provided by the person requiring care or by a  family member, or their agent or representative.
There must be a written order by a medical professional relating to the defined activities.
As part of the guidance and instruction, an explicit reference must be made to the possibility of the caregiver rejecting the assumption of these activities.
The person who carries out the professional guidance or instruction must make sure that the caregiver has the necessary skills.
Delegation of nursing and medical activities has a fixed-term. It ends at the latest when the provision of care ends.

Documentation and inspection of the delegation of medical and nursing activities 

Information required: the delegation of nursing and medical activities must be documented by healthcare professionals. The independent caregiver is also required to document the carrying out of activities entrusted to them adequately and regularly.
Information required: the caregiver must immediately inform the responsible person of everything that may be of importance for this delegation. This concerns in particular a change in the condition of the person requiring care or interruption of the caregiving activity. Inspection required: implementation of delegated nursing and medical activities should be regularly checked by medical personnel.


If an independent caregiver is represented by a substitute care company, these representatives may only perform nursing activities if this specific care case has been transferred to them according to legal regulations - with the corresponding training.
In the guidelines, other arrangements can be made, such as what to do in the case of the caregiver becoming ill (e.g. avoiding any direct contact with the person requiring care).

Important: even if the independent caregiver has undergone training as a qualified health and nursing professional, in their status as a care provider they may only perform nursing and medical activities after appropriate delegation by healthcare professionals.