Support for everyday family life – from pregnancy onwards.

The focus is on practical relief during phases when a lot comes together in everyday life. Depending on the agreement, this can include accompaniment, help with appointments, shopping, selected household tasks and time with the children. The specific scope depends on the family's situation.

This can apply to a family with small children just as much as to one with teenagers – what matters is not the children's age, but where a gap is currently opening up in everyday life that cannot be closed alone.

Yes, our services also include support for families during pregnancy, around the birth and in the postpartum period. The focus is on practical relief and support in everyday life. This does not replace midwifery services, medical advice or treatment.

Especially in the first weeks after the birth, even a small amount of regular help – for example with shopping or looking after older siblings – can make a noticeable difference, so that the family can focus on the newborn.

This might be shopping, accompanying a child to nursery or school, an appointment, an activity with the child, help in the household or a reliable time slot in which parents can take care of other things. We decide together in advance what makes the biggest difference for the family.

It is often the small, recurring tasks that weigh most heavily on everyday life – here it pays to take a close look rather than describing the need in general terms.

Accompaniment to agreed appointments or activities may be possible, provided it fits our services, the time frame and the specific situation. Clear agreements are important about where the accompaniment goes, how long it takes and what responsibility is taken on during that time.

These include, for example, sports or music lessons, playdates with friends or doctor's appointments. Fixed, recurring appointments are particularly easy to build into the weekly schedule.

No. Which service suits a family and whether an insurer could cover the costs are two different questions. A private agreement may be possible regardless of a care level (Pflegegrad), while cost coverage always depends on the relevant legal requirements.

In any case, most family enquiries to ElbFürsorge have nothing to do with a care level, but with perfectly normal phases in which everyday life gets tighter than usual.

No. ElbFürsorge can provide practical relief in everyday life, but does not provide midwifery care, medical treatment or other tasks reserved for qualified professionals. Especially around pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, this clear distinction is important.

The two services combine well: while the midwife takes care of the medical side, ElbFürsorge looks after the practical side of everyday life around it.

Looking after several children at the same time is generally possible and is discussed in advance, so that enough attention can be planned for each child.

Especially during the school holidays, when regular childcare is not available, temporary support can be arranged – for example for individual days or weeks.

If a child has a mild cold and stays at home but does not need medical care, we can provide childcare and company. For more serious health concerns, a medical professional is the right person to contact.

Help with homework can be part of the agreed time, but does not replace tutoring or specialist learning support.

Night-time care or an overnight stay is only possible if this is expressly agreed and the organisational requirements are met.

For breastfeeding and physical recovery after the birth, a midwife or doctor is the right point of contact. During this time, ElbFürsorge can provide practical relief, for example in the household or by looking after older siblings.

Accompaniment to nursery or school, including the journey there and back, can be part of the agreement. Details of the route are discussed in advance.

Yes, especially for working parents, fixed, recurring support on certain weekdays can make everyday life noticeably easier.

Under certain conditions, costs for family support can be claimed for tax purposes, for example as household-related services under § 35a EStG or as childcare costs under § 10 EStG (German Income Tax Act). A tax adviser can best clarify which rule applies in an individual case.

Yes, the family and the caregiver meet in person before the first visit, so that the children in particular can get used to the new face.

Yes, fixed rituals such as a particular bedtime routine or usual mealtimes are gladly adopted, so that as little as possible changes for the children.

Support can also be helpful after a multiple birth, for example to have more hands in the household in the first weeks. The scope is adapted to the special situation.

Short-notice needs, for example for a sudden appointment, can be requested. Whether spontaneous support is possible depends on available capacity.

All information that becomes known in the course of the care is treated confidentially and used only within the scope of our work together.