Abstract
Background
In the period 2011 – 2013, 13 care support points were set up in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. They are the joint responsibility of all health and long-term care insurance funds and local government.
Method
Between July and November 2013, data on organisation and personnel were collected in respect of the care support points and their advisory staff. Questions were asked about reasons for visiting a care support point, the subject matter of any counselling and demographic data on the users. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, the interviews were evaluated by analysis of their content.
Results
The results show a heterogenic picture of adviser training. Most users made contact with the care support points by telephone. General information on long-term care insurance was frequently sought. In 2015, care support points were consulted much more frequently than in 2014. The partners describe the networking involved as time-consuming; any synergy effects to date were estimated to be limited.
Conclusions
More network structures need to be created if those in need of care and assistance as supplied by care counselling based on case management are to be reached in future. What is called for are firm, written contracts with no personal bias, assigning care support points with the role of central actors at the regional level, able to produce neutral, independent organization and coordination of the necessary assistance. A guarantee of continuity of provision would fulfill the requirements of the kind of procedure involved in case management. Regardless of the number of professional providers and informal carers participating.