In short and in plain language
This article is about home emergency call systems. It is a small button you wear on your body. With the button you can call for help.
This matters for older people who live alone.
The article explains how to choose a suitable device. It also explains how an application for a subsidy works.
The button only helps if you wear it. Practise the call once. Check that the device works in every room.
We help you choose, apply and set it up in your own home.
A fall in the kitchen, a dizzy spell in the bathroom, a circulatory collapse in the hallway - and no one nearby: for many older people living alone and their relatives, that is exactly the greatest worry. A home emergency call takes it seriously. At the push of a button the device connects to a service centre staffed around the clock, which organises help in an emergency - from relatives to the ambulance service. What many people do not know: since 1 April 2026 the care insurance fund contributes 27.00 euros (Pflege-helfer24) per month towards the cost, up from 25.50 euros before. On top of that comes a one-off subsidy of 10.49 euros (Pflegekompass) for the setup. This makes a basic home emergency call nearly free in many cases from care level 1 for people living alone. Even so, many shy away from the application and the technology - yet both steps are manageable once you know what matters. This guide explains step by step how to choose the right home emergency call, apply for the subsidy at the care insurance fund and set the device up properly at home. And if you would like support with choosing, applying or connecting, we help you patiently at your home.
Key takeaways
- Since 1 April 2026 the care insurance fund covers 27.00 euros per month for a recognised home emergency call (previously 25.50 euros), plus a one-off 10.49 euros for connection and setup (Pflege-helfer24, Pflegekompass).
- The requirements are at least care level 1 and largely living alone - even the lowest level is enough, because the home emergency call counts as a care aid under section 40 SGB XI.
- The application is manageable: first clarify the care level, then choose a provider that is a contract partner of the care fund - it usually submits the forms along with you.
- Depending on the situation, the basic setup of base station and portable transmitter can be extended by a fall sensor, a mobile device with location or a key safe at the house.
- A home emergency call only helps if the transmitter is reliably worn on the body, the emergency call has been practised once and the technology works throughout the living area.
What a Home Emergency Call Does in Daily Life
At its core a home emergency call consists of two parts: a base station connected to the phone network or the mobile network, and a small transmitter that the older person wears on the body as a wristband or pendant. If the person gets into distress, a single press of the button is enough: the base station opens a voice connection to a service centre that is staffed around the clock. Trained staff answer there, get an overview and set the right help in motion - depending on the situation, relatives, neighbours or the ambulance service are alerted. The great value lies in the fact that help arrives even when the person can no longer reach a phone. Falls in particular are the biggest issue here: around one third (Robert Koch Institute) of people over 65 fall at least once a year, and among those over 80 it is about one in two (World Health Organization). Falls are therefore among the most common causes of injury in older age (Robert Koch Institute). Anyone lying on the floor alone and without help after a fall loses valuable time - and this is exactly the gap a home emergency call closes.
How the emergency call works in daily life
New in 2026: the Increased Care-Fund Subsidy
Legally, the home emergency call counts as a care aid and is subsidised by the care insurance fund under Section 40 SGB XI. What is new since 1 April 2026 is the amount: instead of the 25.50 euros (Pflege-helfer24) that applied for years, the care fund now covers 27.00 euros (Pflege-helfer24) per month for a recognised device. On top of that comes a one-off flat rate of 10.49 euros (Pflegekompass) for the connection and setup. Because a simple basic package sits in a similar range at many providers, the monthly subsidy largely covers the basic equipment in many cases - for eligible people the home emergency call is, based on experience, nearly free. It is important that the subsidy can be settled directly between provider and care fund when the provider is a contract partner of the fund. Then you do not have to pay up front. Extra services such as a fall sensor, a mobile device with GPS for when out and about, or a key safe are usually not covered by the basic subsidy and are charged separately.
| Feature | Without subsidy | With the care-fund subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly base fee | full own share | up to 27.00 euros covered |
| Setup/connection | paid yourself | 10.49 euros one-off covered |
| Requirement | none | care level 1 and living alone |
| Billing | yourself | direct via the care fund possible |
| Result in daily life | noticeable cost | for the basic package mostly nearly free |
From care level 1 the application is worthwhile as a rule
Requirements: Care Level and Living Alone
For the care fund to subsidise the home emergency call, two conditions must be met. First, the person needs at least care level 1 - the lowest step already qualifies. Second, they must mostly live alone or, in comparable situations, be alone for large parts of the day, so that in an emergency no one can help immediately. This applies to very many households: about one third (Federal Statistical Office) of people over 65 in Germany live alone, and among very old women the share is much higher still. The care fund sets the requirements in the care aids register maintained by the national association of statutory health insurance funds. A medical certificate is usually not needed for the home emergency call; what matters are the care level and the living situation. The following points summarise when the entitlement exists:
- There is at least care level 1 - even the lowest step is enough.
- The person lives alone or is without help in the household for longer periods during the day.
- In an emergency they cannot reliably reach a phone or call for help themselves.
- The chosen provider is a recognised contract partner of the care fund.
- The device meets the requirements of the care aids register.
Step by Step: Applying for the Subsidy
Applying for the home emergency call subsidy is simpler than many fear. In practice the chosen home emergency call provider often handles a large part of the formalities, because it routinely submits the applications to the care funds. Even so, it helps to know the process so that nothing is left undone. Anyone without a care level first submits an application for care benefits at the care fund - which is attached to the health and care insurance. Once the care level is in place, the actual application for the home emergency call as a care aid follows. The one-off connection flat rate of 10.49 euros (Pflegekompass) and the monthly contribution are then usually settled directly between provider and fund. The following order guides you safely through the process:
- Check the care level: if there is none yet, submit an application at the care fund.
- Choose a provider that is a contract partner of the care fund and active in your region.
- Apply for the home emergency call as a care aid - the provider usually submits it with you.
- Wait for the care fund's approval; for a recognised claim it covers 27.00 euros per month.
- Have the device delivered, connected and demonstrated - then the emergency call is ready to use.
Choosing the Right Device
Not every home emergency call is the same, and the differences lie in the detail. The basic equipment of a base station and a portable transmitter covers the classic emergency at home. Beyond that there are sensible additions that can make the difference depending on the situation in life. A fall sensor detects a fall automatically and triggers even when the person can no longer press the button. A mobile device with location creates safety when out and about too, for instance on a walk or while shopping. A key safe on the house ensures that emergency crews can get in without a forced door. What matters is that the technology suits the person: buttons that are easy to feel, a clear voice connection and a transmitter that can also be worn in the shower. The following overview shows the most important building blocks:
Emergency button on the body
The transmitter as a wristband or pendant triggers the emergency call at the push of a button - light, waterproof and ready to hand at any time.
Base station
It sets up the voice connection to the service centre, via landline or mobile, with a hands-free unit in the room.
Fall sensor
Detects a fall automatically and triggers even when the person can no longer operate the button themselves.
Mobile device with location
A device for when out and about, with location, gives safety on a walk or while shopping too.
Service centre around the clock
Trained staff take the call, get an overview and organise the fitting help.
Key safe
A securely stored key on the house lets emergency crews in without the door having to be damaged.
Combining a Home Emergency Call with Smart Home
A home emergency call is the basis, but it combines well with further technology that makes daily life at home safer. A video doorbell shows on a screen or the smartphone who is at the door, without the person having to get up - that creates safety against unwanted visitors at the front door. A smart door lock can be opened via an app and can give relatives or the care service controlled access. If you wish, add security cameras that allow a look at the entrance or garden. Particularly effective against night-time falls is automatic lighting that lights the way to the toilet - how this succeeds is shown in our article on smart lights for fall prevention. Which combination makes sense in an individual case we are happy to clarify in a smart home consultation - without tech jargon and explained calmly.
What to watch out for in the contract
Common Hurdles - and How to Solve Them
As sensible as a home emergency call is, in practice it often comes down to two points: the application and the technology. The application seems bureaucratic, yet the forms are manageable and the provider usually helps. The technology, in turn, unsettles many older people - the base station has to go to the phone or mobile network, the transmitter has to be charged and the range in the home has to be checked. When a new device comes into the house, the question quickly arises whether the Wi-Fi is stable everywhere at all. If dead spots or a weak signal cause worry, a look at Wi-Fi optimization at home helps, so that networked additions also work reliably. The best home emergency call is of little use if the transmitter lies in the cupboard or the button is not pressed out of uncertainty. That is why a good start as a rule includes a patient briefing in which the person carries out the process once themselves.
The rule of thumb
Connecting and Setting Up the Technology Reliably
The application is submitted, the device is here - now the right setup matters. The base station has to stand in a suitable place so that the voice connection works throughout the living area, the transmitter is checked for range and the storing of the emergency data is verified. These are exactly the steps we take off the hands of older people and their relatives. We come to your home, set up the technology, test the emergency call together and explain patiently how everything works - several times too, if that helps. For older people we offer the right setting with our tech help for seniors: one personal contact, no call centre and plenty of time. Transparent terms and the home-visit flat rate can be found on the page about our prices. Anyone who wants to bring the home network to a secure state at the same time will find the right steps in the guide on the secure Wi-Fi router.
Advise and choose
We listen, clarify the living situation and recommend the equipment that really fits - without unnecessary extra packages.
Help with the application
We support you in filling in the forms for the care level and the home emergency call, so the subsidy is approved quickly.
Connect the device
We set up the base station, check the range of the transmitter and store the emergency data cleanly.
Brief patiently
We practise the emergency call together once, explain every step and repeat until everything sits securely.
The best safeguard for an emergency is the one you can actually operate. A home emergency call only helps when technology and person fit together - and for that we take our time.
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