Care - what is it?
Caring for a person is very multifaceted. It involves applying the right measures to maintain health so that independence and personal responsibility are preserved for as long as possible, as well as mental care to promote confidence and courage to face life.
Who needs care?
The term is often used as a collective term for the support of older people, but it refers to the support of people of all ages who require short-term or long-term treatment and care due to signs of ageing, illness or accidents. These people are often unable to lead an independent life.
Who cares for whom?
People who need care can be cared for either at home, in their familiar surroundings or in a care facility. Care at home is often provided by relatives or outpatient services such as public or private Spitex organizations. A mixture of care services provided by relatives and care services provided by professional Spitex organizations is often an ideal care situation for everyone involved.
Some people opt for so-called inpatient care, which is provided by professional caregivers in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
When is care necessary?
Care becomes necessary when people have health restrictions or are no longer able to lead a self-determined life. Possible cases in which care is necessary:
- In the case of a physical disability
- In the event of an acute or chronic illness
- In the case of frailty due to old age
- In the event of injuries due to accidents
A distinction is made between short-term care and long-term care.
Short-term care is limited in time, as the patient is expected to improve and regain self-determination in their life. Short-term care is often used in the event of accidents or after injuries.
Long-term care is used when there is no expectation of improvement in the patient's condition. It is often used in cases of physical or mental disabilities, old-age frailty and chronic illnesses.
What is care?
In Switzerland, care services are classified according to the ABC principle. These include
A - Services for consultation and clarification
B - Treatment care services
C - Basic care services
Who pays for care services?
For all services that fall under the ABC principle, all health insurance companies cover around 90% of the costs if there is a need. Spitex organizations work with the patient's doctors to determine whether a need is necessary by carrying out a needs assessment. The patient pays a share of around 10%, which varies from canton to canton. In the canton of Zurich, patients pay CHF 7.65/day towards the costs. In the canton of Aargau it is CHF 15.35 per day.
Patients who have taken out supplementary insurance are still entitled to cost sharing for care and domestic services. The extent depends on the patient's state of health and the insurance provider.
What types of care are there?
There are different types of care, which are subdivided according to the phase of life, clinical picture or accident situation. These include
Elderly care, health and nursing care, palliative care, dementia care, oncology care, etc.
