Assistance for the elderly: subsidies for travel costs, telephone, home emergency call

The elderly care service supports senior citizens with travel allowances, telephone assistance and home emergency call systems.

Description

Assistance for the elderly is intended to help prevent, overcome or alleviate difficulties caused by old age and to give elderly people the opportunity to participate independently in life in the community and to strengthen their ability to help themselves.

a) Travel allowance
The following can be considered as a travel allowance

  • a monthly amount for the purchase of travel tickets (e.g. travelcard) or
  • a six-monthly or annual subsidy for the purchase of a token.

Note: Under certain conditions, severely disabled people can obtain a free token from the Bavarian Family and Social Centre for free use of local public transport. In this case, there is no entitlement to a travel subsidy.

b) Telephone assistance
As part of the telephone assistance programme

  • the connection fee can be paid once and
  • a monthly subsidy towards the basic charge.

Note: The telephone assistance applies either to a landline or a mobile phone contract.

c) Home emergency call system
For a home emergency call system

  • a monthly subsidy can be paid for the use, commissioning, connection and instruction of a home emergency call system.

Note: Persons with long-term care insurance with care level 1 and higher are not entitled to a home emergency call system as part of care for the elderly. They can contact their care insurance fund. Persons not covered by care insurance should contact the district of Upper Bavaria.

a) Travel subsidy
The travel allowance is intended to enable older people to purchase travel cards to make it easier to run errands and maintain social contacts.

b) Telephone assistance
Telephone assistance is intended to support older people living alone who are prevented from leaving their homes regularly for age-related reasons. People should be able to live in their own home for as long as possible and maintain contact with relatives and friends.

c) Home emergency call system
The home emergency call system is designed to help older people stay in their own home for as long as possible. It becomes important when the telephone is no longer sufficient.

Prerequisites

a) Travel allowance

  • You must have reached the standard retirement age and
  • a certain income and asset limit must not be exceeded

b) Telephone assistance

  • You must have reached the standard age limit and
  • a certain income and asset limit must not be exceeded and
  • live alone and have no relatives living in the immediate vicinity (this can be proven by a written declaration that you sign) and
  • be prevented from leaving your home regularly for age-related reasons (a medical certificate or a severely disabled person's pass with the G, aG or H mark is sufficient).

c) Home emergency call system

  • You must have reached the standard age limit and
  • a certain income and asset limit must not be exceeded and
  • You must live alone and be prevented from leaving your home regularly for age-related reasons and
  • a life-threatening situation is likely to arise that requires immediate medical assistance (e.g. asthma, cardiovascular disease, risk of falling, diabetes mellitus). This must be proven by presenting a corresponding medical certificate.

Required documents

  • Identity card/passport
  • Tenancy agreement, current rent statement
  • Proof of income such as pension statement, wage or salary statement
  • Proof of health/nursing care insurance
  • Bank statements
  • Passbooks
  • disability certificate, if applicable
  • medical certificate, if applicable

Duration & Costs

Fees

There are no fees.

Questions & Answers

You can find counselling services at www.muenchen.de/alter-pflege

Legal basis

§ Section 71 of the Twelfth Book of the German Social Code (SGB XII), Social Assistance Guidelines in Bavaria (SHR)

Related services

Advice from the Munich counselling associations

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Home visits by occupational therapists - THEA mobil

If you suffer from a chronic illness and need occupational therapy but find it too difficult to go to a practice, you can arrange a home visit.

Counselling for problems in geriatric care

The complaints office advises people in need of care, relatives, legal carers, acquaintances and carers on issues relating to care for the elderly.

Support in old age

In its social community centre, older people and their relatives receive advice on issues relating to home and nursing care as well as financial assistance.

Counselling centres for older people and relatives

Are you an older person or a person in need of care looking for support? Would you like advice as a relative or carer? These centres can help.

Subsidy for meals on wheels/ social lunches

Anyone who is unable to do their shopping or prepare a hot meal can apply for a subsidy for meals on wheels or the social lunch programme.

Grant for the purchase of a computer for senior citizens

If you are a senior citizen and have bought a laptop, computer or tablet, the City of Munich will support your purchase with a grant.

Dental home visits for the elderly and people in need of care

If you are unable to visit a dental practice due to personal restrictions, you can arrange a home visit.

Suggestion of legal support

If an adult can no longer manage their own affairs due to a mental illness or disability, you can apply for guardianship.