Expansion of Care Provider Networks Underway
In a bid to address the growing demand for support services for the elderly, a repeat of the training offer for daily companionship has been announced for next year. This news was welcomed by Elisabeth Strasser, the county's senior representative, who expressed her delight at the prospect of the support network for the elderly becoming even stronger.
The training, designed to assist elderly people who wish to stay in their familiar homes while being well taken care of, is a key component in achieving the goal of elderly residents staying in their homes for as long as possible. The services provided by daily support services can be utilised for household services or daily companionship, and are invaluable when managing household chores and daily tasks becomes challenging due to physical limitations.
The training session, which took place on June 4, 2025, was organised by the district authority in collaboration with the Alzheimer Society of Nuremberg. It was attended by 19 participants, both from the county and the city of Landshut. The session, which was 30 hours long, covered topics such as interacting with a neighbour or relative with dementia, communicating with them effectively, and adopting the right attitude as a helper.
Two-thirds of the training time was dedicated to "Dealing with people in need of care and with dementia". The training also discussed support with household management, including hygiene and cleaning, nutrition and meal preparation, and accident prevention. It aimed to prepare helpers to support and accompany those in need, with a focus on psychological and geriatric psychiatric illnesses.
The trained helpers who will offer further training in daily companionship for the elderly next year are Altenpflegehelfer/in (geriatric nursing assistants) starting vocational training around April 1, 2026. Examples of organisations offering this training include Königsberger Diakonie and Caritasverband Darmstadt e.V.
Health insurance companies provide a monthly relief allowance of 131 euros for daily support services, which is a testament to the importance of these services in ensuring the well-being of the elderly. Elisabeth Strasser, in her role as the county's senior representative, thanked the trainer and participants for their commitment in the field of daily companionship.
The training session was held according to § 45a SGB XI, reflecting the government's commitment to providing quality care for the elderly. With the repeat training announced for next year, even more helpers will be prepared to provide the much-needed support for the elderly, enabling them to live comfortably and safely in their familiar homes.
