Support for senior citizens: New offer in Bocholt

Whether it's shopping at the supermarket, a walk in the park or a little help around the house - senior citizens with a care degree often lack the right support options to cope with these everyday tasks. This is where the "Marketplace Neighbourhood Help" comes in.

The new series of events brings people with a care degree who are looking for support together with committed volunteers. Together with the Caritasverband Bocholt, the Leben im Alter e.V. association, the DRK and the Tür an Tür e.V. association, the city of Bocholt wants to make a contribution to strengthening neighbourhood help.

"The Neighbourhood Help Marketplace creates an opportunity for senior citizens and potential helpers to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere and make joint agreements", emphasises Christian Tewiele, Head of the Senior Citizens, Volunteering, Care and Pensions Division of the City of Bocholt. The events begin with a presentation of the framework conditions, followed by an opportunity for personal dialogue over coffee and cake.

For senior citizens with a care degree, the focus is on a wide range of support options, such as help with shopping, walks, household help or trips to the doctor. Joint leisure activities such as playing cards or reading aloud from the newspaper can also be part of neighbourhood assistance.

Funding through the care insurance fund

Neighbourhood assistance is financed by the care insurance fund's relief amount, so that senior citizens with a care level do not incur any additional costs. For care level 1, €131 per month is available, and more for higher care levels. As the allowance for the voluntary neighbourhood helpers may not exceed the minimum wage, at least ten hours of support per month are possible.

"We often hear that it is difficult to find a provider for everyday support, as care services and other providers are working to capacity", says Tewiele. As the relief amount is only paid out by the care insurance fund when a service is utilised, it often expires unused. "With this first-time offer from the marketplace, we want to bring senior citizens together with committed volunteers and enable them to make use of the relief amount", says Tewiele from the Social Affairs Department of the City of Bocholt.

"Family members can of course also take part in the events and look for or together with the senior citizens to see if they can find suitable support", says Tewiele.

Young people and adults who would like to become socially involved can make contacts here and support senior citizens in their everyday lives. They receive a tax-free allowance of up to 131 euros per month per person supported, whereby a maximum of two people can be cared for tax-free.

Registrations from senior citizens and neighbourhood helpers for the four events "Marktplatz Nachbarschaftshilfe" are accepted by the City of Bocholt's senior citizens' office by e-mail to seniorenbuero(at)bocholt(dot)de or by telephone on (02871) 953 2234. The senior citizens' office will also be happy to help with any questions about the event. Detailed information can be found on the website of the city of Bocholt at www.bocholt.de\marktplatz-nachbarschaftshilfe.

Dates and venues:

• Friday, 24 January 2025, from 3 p.m.
• Caritas Bocholt neighbourhood meeting place Münsterstraße 23a, 46397 Bocholt
• Friday, 31 January 2025, from 3 p.m.
• L-i-A e.V. Neighbourhood meeting place Wesemannstraße 19, 46397 Bocholt
• Tuesday, 4 February 2025, from 5 p.m.
• Tür an Tür e.V. Parish Hall Ss. Ewaldi Schwertstraße 22, 46395 Bocholt
• Note: Childcare will be provided during this event.
• Monday, 10 February 2025, from 5 p.m.
• DRK Borken district neighbourhood meeting point DRK Bärendorfstraße 24, 46395 Bocholt