Care advice under § 7a SGB XI: entitlement, process and independent supplement

What is care advice under § 7a?

§ 7a SGB XI gives people in need of care an entitlement to individual advice and assistance from a care adviser. The aim is to identify the help needed, find suitable benefits, draw up a care plan and coordinate the necessary help.

Who is entitled?

People who receive long-term care insurance benefits are entitled to it. It also applies if an application has been submitted and there is a clear need for advice. Relatives and other people can be included with your consent.

Who advises – and how do you get an appointment?

The long-term care insurance fund (Pflegekasse) names a care adviser or another advice centre; the advice must also be available at the care support centre (Pflegestützpunkt). After your application, the fund is supposed to offer a specific advice appointment promptly – within two weeks – or issue an advice voucher (Beratungsgutschein).

What does the advice offer?

• An overview of benefits, conditions and applications
• An individual care plan
• Support in organising care, aids and relief

When independent advice is also useful

Long-term care insurance funds are also the bodies that pay for care. Many people seeking advice therefore want someone in addition who advises without any link to the fund or to a provider, takes more time and comes to your home. Such advice does not replace your entitlement under § 7a – it supplements it.

Zoe Pflegeberatung is one such private, independent supplement for Cologne and Bonn. Use your statutory entitlement with the long-term care insurance fund – and, if needed, ask for my view as well.

Go into the advice session with a clear question

You do not need to know the technical terms. Describe what is currently difficult and what you would like: for example greater safety at home, relief for a relative, or help sorting out the next steps. Bring along any letters you do not understand. What matters is that you leave the conversation with clear, understandable guidance.

What a helpful care plan contains

A plan should fit your daily life. Agree together what support is needed, which services are an option and who will take care of putting them into practice. Agree on a time to look back and review. If the situation changes, the plan needs adjusting too. Ask for an easy-to-understand summary for your own records.

Combine statutory and private advice deliberately

Make use of the entitlement you have with your long-term care insurance fund. If you also want private support, first clarify the specific concern, the scope, the fee and the limits of the engagement. Ask what results you will receive and which tasks you take on yourself. That way you avoid duplicated work and know whom to turn to with which question.