Healthcare personnel are bound by confidentiality, but you still have the right to receive information about:
• Contact details for healthcare services
• Procedures, staff, and available services
• Opportunities to apply for assistive devices, welfare technology, etc.
• Legislation, case processing, and rights
• Services for relatives, both children and adults
• Information on user and caregiver organizations
Patients over the age of 16 must consent before relatives can receive information about their health status. The same applies to access to their medical records. If the patient has given consent, you, as the closest relative, can receive information about their health condition, diagnosis, and treatment prospects.
The patient may also choose to share only specific information. In some cases, the situation itself may warrant informing relatives even if prior consent has not been given.
For patients who are unable to safeguard their own interests, the closest relatives have the right to be informed.
Municipal services such as practical assistance and welfare technology (e.g., alarm systems and tracking devices) can provide respite for caregivers.
Respite measures are free of charge. The municipality cannot require co-payment for respite care. This also applies to practical assistance, day center services, or short-term stays in institutions—services that would otherwise require a co-payment.
If you have demanding caregiving responsibilities, such as caring for a spouse or child, you can apply for a caregiver allowance from the municipality.
