Care Level 1: An overview of the most important criteria

Care level 1 indicates a "minor impairment of independence" and is the lowest classification among the five care levels. But how do you apply for care level 1? And what benefits are you entitled to with this classification? Find out which requirements must be met and what financial aid and support you are entitled to with care level 1.

To receive a care degree, you must submit an application to your long-term care insurance. An expert assessor then prepares an assessment based on the "New Assessment of Need (NBA)".

During the assessment, independence in various areas is evaluated, with up to 100 points awarded. These points are made up of six differently weighted categories. Different regulations may apply to the care of children or in special needs situations.

1. Mobility:
   How independently can the affected person move around, maintain balance, sit upright, and climb stairs?
2. Cognitive and communicative abilities:
   Is the person able to orient themselves in everyday life in terms of time and place? Can they make decisions, assess risks, hold conversations, and express their needs?
3. Behaviors and psychological problems:
   How often does the affected person require support due to psychological problems such as anxiety or aggressive behavior? Are there signs of delusions or destruction of property?
4. Self-care:
   To what extent is the applicant able to wash, care for, and feed themselves independently?
5. Coping with illness- or therapy-related demands:
   What support does the applicant need in dealing with their illness or medical treatments, such as dialysis or changing dressings?
6. Structuring daily life and social contacts:
   How independently can the applicant organize their daily routine, engage in activities, and maintain social contacts?

Each of these six criteria is assessed based on up to 16 specific sub-points. The points collected in the individual categories are weighted and lead to a total score, which determines the care level.

Individuals with care level 1 are largely independent in their daily lives and only require support in specific situations. They are often able to care for themselves well and manage many tasks without help. For this reason, the available benefits for care level 1 are more limited compared to higher care levels.

However, there are some benefits that are granted regardless of the care level. These include, among others, the monthly relief amount, the provision of nursing aids, and subsidies for adapting living space. These supports are equally available to all those in need of care, regardless of whether they have care level 1 or care level 5.

Persons with care level 1 receive neither care allowance for care by relatives nor in-kind care benefits for support by an outpatient care service. These financial aids are only available from care level 2.

However, people in need of care with care level 1 can use the monthly relief amount of 131 euros. This amount is specifically intended to relieve the burden on family caregivers and to promote the independence of those affected.

Options for using the relief amount for care level 1:

• Day or night care: Support during specific times of the day.
• Outpatient care and support: Relief through professional care services.
• Short-term care: Temporary care in a care facility.
• Everyday support services: Services according to state-specific regulations.

For individuals with care level 1 who primarily need support with everyday household tasks, a home helper is often a practical solution. Unlike a caregiver, a home helper focuses on activities such as cleaning, shopping, or cooking. The costs can usually be covered by the monthly relief amount of 131 euros.

With care level 1, there is no entitlement to respite care, which usually serves to finance a substitute for the caregiver in case of illness, vacation, or other absences. Short-term care, a temporary stay in an inpatient facility, is also only granted from care level 2.

Aids and appliances such as rollators, glasses or prostheses are generally available to all those with health insurance and are not tied to a care level. The only requirement is a doctor's prescription.

Nursing aids, which are specifically required for care, on the other hand, require a recognized care level. Whether this is care level 1 or 5 is irrelevant. Nursing aids are divided into two categories:

• Technical nursing aids:
  These include nursing beds, wheelchairs, shower stools and other devices such as emergency call systems.
• Consumables:
  For example, disinfectants, disposable gloves or protective aprons.

An emergency home call system is considered a technical care aid and is subsidized by the long-term care insurance fund. The subsidy is up to 25.50 Euros per month and is subject to certain conditions. Those entitled are individuals in need of care who live alone and would likely be unable to call for help by telephone in an emergency.

Since people with care level 1 are usually still very active and mobile, a mobile emergency call offers a significant advantage: it works both at home and on the go.

An emergency call wristband offers valuable support for people with care level 2 who are still active and mobile but need quick help in an emergency. It combines modern technology with simple operation and provides additional safety and independence.

• Quick help in an emergency:
  In the event of a fall or other emergencies, the emergency call wristband allows quick summoning of help. This is a significant advantage, especially for individuals without a direct caregiver on-site.
• Increased safety and independence:
  The emergency call wristband gives wearers a sense of security, knowing that help is quickly available if needed. It promotes independence and thus contributes to a higher quality of life.
• Location determination:
  Emergency call wristbands with GPS function allow for the exact location of the person to be determined in an emergency. This is particularly useful if the person is out and about and needs help.
• Easy operation:
  Emergency call wristbands are generally easy to use. A single press of a button is enough to trigger the emergency call, which is especially helpful for people who have difficulty with other technical devices.
• Communication with caregivers:
  Some models allow direct calls to pre-programmed contacts such as caregivers or relatives. This facilitates communication in an emergency.
• Medical information:
  Emergency call wristbands can also store important medical data such as allergies or medication plans, which can be relevant for emergency services in an emergency.
• Battery life and notification functions:
  Modern emergency call wristbands offer a long battery life and automatically notify defined contacts if the battery runs low or if there are technical problems.
• Fall detection:
  Emergency call wristbands with fall detection recognize a fall and automatically notify emergency contacts or the emergency call center without the wearer having to actively intervene.

The Gardia emergency wristband was specially developed to offer people with care needs more safety and support, thus maintaining independence and self-reliance for as long as possible. It combines modern technology with simple, user-friendly functions that relieve both the wearer and their relatives.

• Fall detection with 96% accuracy:
  Specially developed for seniors and individually adjustable – also detects soft falls.
• Long battery life:
  With a battery life of 21 days, you don't have to charge the wristband daily.
• European Roaming:
  Thanks to Europe-wide roaming, you are always on the best network – regardless of provider. This means you can always rely on a reliable connection, no matter where you are.
• Precise location in an emergency:
  The location is precisely determined so that help arrives quickly and efficiently.
• Professional 24/7 Bosch emergency call center:
  Available around the clock to organize quick and competent help in an emergency.
• Personal emergency contacts:
  With the My Gardia App, you have the option to set up to 6 individual emergency contacts who will be informed immediately in an emergency. You decide who is notified first – your trusted emergency contacts or the professional 24/7 emergency call center. This way, you retain control over the help you receive in an emergency.

Limitations in everyday movements can turn even simple things into challenges. Slippery bathtubs, toilets without grab bars, or other barriers in the home environment can quickly become hazards that compromise both safety and independence.

Many such risks lurk especially in the bathroom and can be mitigated through targeted adjustments – from larger renovations like installing a barrier-free shower to smaller measures like non-slip flooring or grab bars.

Long-term care insurance financially supports these home environment-improving measures with up to 4,180 euros per project. The maximum funding amount can be applied for for various projects, with prior consultation being necessary.

With care grade 1, there is no entitlement to inpatient care services. A move to a nursing home is usually not necessary at this stage. If you still decide to do so, the long-term care insurance fund will support you with a subsidy of only 131 euros per month – the remaining costs must be borne by yourself.

Care and support should always be tailored to personal needs, as every situation is unique. Various services are available for this purpose, which can be utilized under certain conditions.

Care services for care level 1:

• Day and night care: These semi-inpatient services allow individuals to spend the day or night in a facility, while the rest of the care is provided at home. However, there is no entitlement to these services for care level 1.
• Care counseling and counseling visits: With care level 1, you are entitled to free care counseling (§7a SGB XI). In addition, a counseling visit (§37.3 SGB XI) can be utilized once a year.
• Care courses for relatives: In these free courses, relatives or interested parties learn practical skills such as personal hygiene, transfer techniques, and other important care topics.
• Care support allowance: This benefit supports family caregivers in acute care situations by ensuring continued payment of wages or salary to prevent financial bottlenecks.
• Shared living group allowance: For people living in a care shared living group, there is a monthly allowance of 224 Euros – regardless of the care level.
• Digital care applications (DiPA): Up to 53 Euros per month can be provided for digital aids that support people in need of care and their relatives in everyday life.

With these services, the long-term care insurance fund helps to shape everyday life independently and individually despite the need for care.