[Inpatient Preventative and Rehabilitative Treatment for Informal Caregivers - An Explorative Investigation of Specific Offers in Germany].

Introduction: In line with a new law in 2012 (Pflege-Neuausrichtungs-Gesetz) a special regard to informal care givers in inpatient rehabilitation and prevention facilities was established. Thus possibilities were created to facilitate care for people requiring nursing within the rehabilitation hospital while the informal caregiver is treated. On behalf of the German Ministry of Health the BQS Institute of Quality and Patient Safety analysed what specific offers for this target group are available in the rehabilitation setting and to what extent the requirements of the new law are already implemented.

Methods: To identify those specific offers for informal caregivers, a nationwide e-mail survey was conducted in 1,167 rehabilitation hospitals in Germany which was complemented with an internet research. Additionally semi-standardised interviews with 28 experts in different specialty fields as well as a literature research were conducted.

Results: 31 rehabilitation hospitals were identified, which provide specific measures for informal caregivers and 53 hospitals which provide care for the dependent person, too (overlaps are possible). By providing those offers, the providers are in unchartered waters in regard to concepts. Usually providers are relating to already existing measures in their indication areas and extend those through specific measures. To date, a targeted allocation of informal caregivers to appropriate facilities is not established.