Everyday companionship that brings company and security.

Yes, of course an enquiry can also be made by relatives. Especially when they live further away, it can help to have reliable support on site and transparent agreements. Which form of companionship and which time frame make sense is discussed together beforehand.

Regular, brief updates – for example after each appointment – help you keep a good sense of the situation on site, even from a distance. How close this exchange is will be agreed individually.

Accompaniment to doctor's, therapy or other appointments can be part of the agreed support. The destination, route, time frame and the desired form of accompaniment are discussed in advance. Medical advice or treatment is not included.

Waiting time on site can also be part of the accompaniment, so that nobody has to sit alone in the waiting room. Whether and how long we wait is part of the prior agreement.

Practical help with selected tasks, accompaniment, shopping or appointments can take the pressure off during this phase. The help that is actually needed and what makes sense within our services is discussed as specifically as possible before we start.

Especially in the first weeks after discharge, needs are often greater than later on. The scope can therefore deliberately be agreed for a limited period and then reduced if necessary.

Personal time can be an important part of everyday companionship. Conversation, cooking together, a walk, reading or another familiar activity can be at the centre of it. The person themselves decides what kind of company feels right.

Sometimes a fixed weekly appointment to look forward to is enough. How often this takes place is decided together and can be adjusted if needed.

Depending on the agreement, household support can include shopping, laundry, tidying or selected household tasks, for example. Before a visit, it should be as clear as possible which tasks are wanted and within what time frame they will be carried out.

For larger, regular cleaning needs, it is worth taking a look at our separate service "Household & Cleaning" – the two areas can also be combined if needed.

A trusted person can of course be involved. How the accompaniment is arranged depends on the appointment, the wishes of the person concerned and the agreed task. Such questions can be discussed openly in advance.

It also works the other way round: some relatives prefer not to be present at certain appointments and hand over the accompaniment entirely to ElbFürsorge. Both are possible and are agreed in advance.

In Hamburg, the relief amount (Entlastungsbetrag) under § 45b SGB XI can be used for recognised everyday support services. Whether a specific ElbFürsorge service can be covered this way depends on the recognition status, the specific service and personal eligibility, and should be clarified in advance with the responsible long-term care insurance fund (Pflegekasse).

Until this has been clarified with the Pflegekasse, working together can also start on a private basis. If cost coverage becomes possible later, this can usually be taken into account retrospectively without any complications.

A simple reminder to take medication can be part of the companionship, provided no medical assessment or administration is required. Preparing or administering medication is part of medical treatment care and is outside our services – this is the responsibility of nursing services or appropriately instructed relatives.

All caregivers present a police certificate of good conduct. In addition, the client and caregiver get to know each other personally during the initial conversation before the actual companionship begins.

Everyday companionship can also benefit people with early-stage dementia, for example through fixed routines, familiar faces and calm company. It does not replace specialised dementia care or a medical assessment; whether and to what extent companionship makes sense is discussed beforehand.

Yes, accompaniment is generally also possible with a rollator, wheelchair or other walking aids. We discuss in advance which distances are realistic and whether additional help is needed getting in and out of vehicles.

Short visits of one to two hours are generally possible, for example for a walk or a conversation in between. How quickly this can be arranged depends on available capacity.

Depending on availability, linguistic or cultural preferences can also be taken into account. Such a wish should be mentioned in the initial conversation so that a suitable caregiver can be found.

Appointments at weekends or on public holidays are generally possible, provided there is sufficient capacity. As demand is often higher on these days, we recommend enquiring early.

Under certain conditions, expenses for personal care and everyday companionship can be claimed as household-related services under § 35a EStG (German Income Tax Act) – 20 per cent of the costs, up to €4,000 per year. A proper invoice and payment by bank transfer rather than cash are required; individual tax advice is recommended.

In the initial conversation, we specifically ask about personal preferences – from favourite topics of conversation to the preferred time of day for a walk. This way, the companionship can be tailored from the very beginning.

Visits to concerts, exhibitions or events in the neighbourhood can also be part of the companionship if desired.

Whether reading, listening to music, a card game or gardening – shared hobbies can naturally be built into the time together.

A traditional nursing service focuses mainly on personal nursing care and medical care. ElbFürsorge complements this with the personal, everyday side – company, accompaniment and practical support – and combines well with an existing nursing service.

Yes. The initial conversation and a first meeting between the client and the caregiver are without obligation. Only afterwards do we decide together whether and to what extent we will work together.