Respite Care in Berlin
When the family caregiver needs a break, we take over. Reliable, local and paid for by the long-term care insurance fund.
Respite care (Verhinderungspflege) steps in when the family caregiver is unavailable – due to vacation, illness or a break. From care level 2, the long-term care insurance fund has paid up to €3,539 per year for this since July 2025 (shared annual amount with short-term care) for a maximum of 8 weeks; SPANDOVIA Pflege takes over the substitution locally in Spandau, Charlottenburg and throughout Berlin.
Who is respite care intended for?
Respite care is aimed at everyone who is cared for at home by a private caregiver, when that caregiver is temporarily unavailable.
- People in need of care with care level 2, 3, 4 or 5
- Relatives who want to relieve a private caregiver
- Caregivers entitled to a vacation or a break
- Families facing sudden illness of the main caregiver
- People cared for at home and not solely by a care service
Respite care: your break is secured, the care continues.
Anyone caring for a relative at home needs a break every now and then. Whether it's vacation, your own illness or simply a day to catch your breath: respite care steps in exactly then and takes over the care.
The long-term care insurance fund covers the costs of this substitution. In Spandau and Charlottenburg, our qualified caregivers look after your relative just as they are used to. That way they remain in good hands and you can really switch off.
What is respite care under § 39 SGB XI?
Respite care (Verhinderungspflege), also known as substitute care, is a benefit of the long-term care insurance. It applies when the private caregiver is temporarily unavailable and someone else has to take over the home care during this time.
Respite care in detail: this is how we support you
By the hour or for several weeks, we adapt the substitution to your daily routine.
Substitution at home
We take over the familiar care within your own four walls.
- Basic care: personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, mobility
- Help with nutrition and fluid intake
- Support and companionship in familiar surroundings
- Seamless continuation of your usual care routine
By the hour or by the day
As flexible as your daily life demands.
- Hourly substitution for doctor's appointments or errands
- Daily substitution during the caregiver's vacation or rehab
- Assignments under 8 hours do not count toward the weekly allowance
- Short-notice substitution in case of sudden illness
Billing & organization
We handle the paperwork for you.
- Direct billing with your long-term care insurance fund
- We check your available annual budget
- Combination with short-term care funds possible
- Advice on how to make the best use of the relief budget
„Sehr freundlicher und zuverlässiger Pflegedienst. Das Team ist kompetent, hilfsbereit und immer engagiert. Die Betreuung erfolgt mit viel Einfühlungsvermögen und Professionalität. Klare Empfehlung!“
Respite care in 3 steps
1. Clarify your needs
You tell us when and how long you need a substitution. Together we check your available budget with the long-term care insurance fund.
2. Plan the substitution
We coordinate the assignment with your usual care routine and assign a dedicated caregiver, often at short notice.
3. We take care of the rest
You enjoy your break. We care for your relative and settle everything directly with the long-term care insurance fund.
Four reasons for your respite care with us
Qualified professionals
The substitution is carried out by qualified caregivers, not anonymous temporary staff.
Seamless transition
We continue your usual care routine so that as little as possible changes for your relative.
Budget used optimally
We show you how to fully exhaust the shared annual amount and combine it with short-term care.
Also at short notice
If the caregiver suddenly becomes unavailable, we organize a substitution as quickly as possible.
What does the long-term care insurance fund pay?
Since July 2025, a shared annual amount with short-term care of up to €3,539 per calendar year has been available for respite care. You use this amount flexibly for both benefits.
During respite care, your care allowance continues to be paid at half the rate for up to 8 weeks. The former six-month prior care period has been abolished. The entitlement therefore exists from the moment care level 2 is determined.
We bill directly with your long-term care insurance fund and advise you free of charge on how best to use your budget for 2026.
Frequently asked questions about respite care
Answers to the most important questions about substitute care.
Respite care (Verhinderungspflege), also known as substitute care under § 39 SGB XI, is a benefit of the long-term care insurance. It covers the costs of a substitution when the private caregiver is temporarily unavailable, for example due to vacation, illness or a necessary break. The care continues to take place at home.
People in need of care with care levels 2 to 5 who are cared for at home by a private caregiver are entitled. Since 1 July 2025, the former six-month prior care period has been abolished. The entitlement therefore exists immediately upon determination of the care level.
Since July 2025 there has been a shared annual amount for respite care and short-term care of up to €3,539 per calendar year (§ 42a SGB XI). You can use this amount flexibly for both benefits. We check for you free of charge how much budget is currently available.
Daily respite care is possible for up to 8 weeks (56 days) per calendar year. Hourly assignments under 8 hours a day do not count toward this allowance and leave the care allowance untouched.
Respite care takes place at home when the private caregiver is unavailable. Short-term care is a temporary full inpatient care in a facility. Since 2025, both benefits share a common annual amount that you can allocate freely.
Yes. During daily respite care, the long-term care insurance fund continues to pay your care allowance at half the rate for up to 8 weeks. For hourly assignments under 8 hours, the care allowance is even retained in full.
A formal application in advance is not strictly necessary; the benefit can also be billed with the long-term care insurance fund afterwards. Nevertheless, we recommend a brief preliminary consultation. This way we clarify your budget, plan the assignment and handle the complete billing for you.
Respite care in Spandau and Charlottenburg
As a local care service, we are quick to reach you: in the old town of Spandau, around Charlottenburg Palace and in Haselhorst, Siemensstadt, Staaken or Kladow. Short distances mean that we can quickly organize a substitution even when the caregiver becomes unavailable at short notice.
Good respite care means: you can take a break with peace of mind.
Request respite care
Three short questions and we will call you back within 24 hours for a free initial consultation.
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All from one provider: we coordinate every care service for you.
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Caring support with personal hygiene, mobility and daily life, right at your home.
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Medical care on doctor's prescription: wound care, medication, injections.
Home Help
Cleaning, shopping, laundry: we reliably ease your everyday life.
Care Counselling
Counselling visits under § 37 (3) SGB XI, free of charge for care allowance recipients.
Plan your break, we take over the care.
Do you need a substitution for vacation, illness or a day off? We organize the respite care and bill directly with your long-term care insurance fund.