Support services: living at home longer with help

Under the provisions of the Long-Term Care Insurance Act (Pflegeversicherungsgesetz), Germany has roughly 5 million people in need of long-term care. More than three-quarters of them are looked after at home. Most of the people requiring help (more than 80 percent) are cared for by family members. Even though people continue to be very willing to help their relatives, the trends towards smaller families and ever-greater mobility are leading to a situation where in the future, these support services will no longer be available to the same extent (source: Federal Statistical Office, Long- Term Care Statistics 2023).

Most places in Germany have an extensive support network in place to provide help for older people. Various services and institutions offer a diverse range of home-help services to help the elderly cope with everyday tasks. Mobile nursing services come into the home to provide care and many organisations staffed by voluntary helpers offer their support when help is needed.

The following gives you an overview of the social services that can make it easier for you to live in your own home for longer in old age.