Caring for relatives in need of care usually requires a lot of time and energy, and caregivers often become ill themselves as the double or even triple burden of caregiving, work, studies, and/or family becomes too great. Therefore, it helps for caregivers to inform themselves about services that can help them better cope with this double burden. On this page, we present some options to you, but in the end, you are always the best judge of what is good for you. Don’t hesitate to seek appropriate counseling!

If you privately care for relatives and are unable to do so, for example because you want to go on vacation or are overwhelmed, the long-term care insurance covers the costs for substitute care for up to six weeks per year. The prerequisite for this is that the person in need of care has at least care level 2 and you are registered as a caregiver. Depending on the care level, an annual budget is available for Verhinderungspflege (respite care), from which both respite care and short-term care can be financed. You can find more information about respite care on the BMG website.

There are various cure options for family caregivers. If you feel overwhelmed by your caregiving duties, talk to your general practitioner. Together you can then consider whether a cure or rehabilitation might be suitable for you.

Physical activity can help you clear your head and stay physically healthy. The JGU’s AHS offer, for example, provides you with the opportunity to participate in numerous different sports activities on campus. The offers can be used by students and employees. You can find information about the exact conditions on the AHS website.

There are special counseling services for family caregivers that you can use at any time, including the psychological online counseling for family caregivers from pflegen-und-leben.de (for those with statutory insurance) and the Care Helpline of the BMBFSFJ. In addition, there may be further local counseling services.

Sometimes it can help to exchange ideas with other caregivers to share valuable tips or simply to have someone to talk to who is having similar experiences. You can find information about special care self-help groups in Rhineland-Palatinate at PflegeSelbsthilfe RLP. At JGU, we offer two groups for family caregivers: The group “Clear Mind” for students and employees of JGU who care for people with dementia, and the digital exchange group “Between Lecture Hall and Daily Care” for student caregivers of the RMU universities.