Care Medal, Certificate of Appreciation and Certificate of Honor; Submission of a Suggestion

The Bavarian State Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Affairs honors individuals who, through personal care or in other ways, have rendered outstanding service to people with disabilities who require care. In recognition of their social contributions, the ministry awards them a Care Medal as well as a certificate of appreciation and honor.

Group of People with Disabilities in Need of Care

People with disabilities who require long-term care are those who are so helpless that, as a result of their disability, they are permanently and to a significant extent dependent on outside assistance—not merely on a temporary basis—for the ordinary and regularly recurring activities of daily living.

Proof is generally provided by a severe disability ID card marked with the letter “H” or by a notice granting a care allowance or care benefit.

The person with a disability who requires care must live in Bavaria.

Caregivers and Personal Care

Caregivers are individuals who are close to the person with a disability in need of care, who provide care as a form of neighborly assistance, or who volunteer as part of an outpatient social service.

The care must generally be provided in the home and be provided free of charge. A nominal fee or reimbursement of the caregiver’s out-of-pocket expenses does not preclude the award.

The caregiver must be worthy of the honor in terms of character and reputation; that is, a check of the Federal Central Register must reveal no record of a final conviction.

The care should, in principle, encompass all services necessary for the care and support of the person in need. Comprehensive care in this sense also includes, for example, any additional special supervision required for a person with a disability, as well as managing their household and caring for their children.

The care must have been provided regularly and, in principle, over a continuous period of at least five years. Shorter interruptions in care—for example, due to vacation or illness on the part of the caregiver or the person with a disability requiring care—do not preclude the award.

Individuals who have rendered outstanding service to people with disabilities in need of care in ways other than through personal care may also be honored.

Proposal

Eligible to submit nominations are welfare and disability organizations, social service providers, operators of facilities and services for people with disabilities, municipalities, and any citizen. The nomination for the award must be submitted to the municipality where the person to be honored lives (municipality of residence). Nomination forms are available at all municipalities, district offices, and state administrative offices.

For nominations submitted by welfare and disability organizations, social service providers, operators of facilities and services for people with disabilities, and municipalities, the municipality of residence confirms that it has no information that would preclude the award. For nominations submitted by individual citizens, the municipality of residence confirms that the requirements for the honor are met, or explains why it considers the requirements not to have been met.

The municipality forwards the reviewed nomination, along with its confirmation, to the competent government authority (via the district office for municipalities belonging to a district).

Decision

The competent government authority forwards the proposal to the Bavarian State Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Affairs along with its opinion for a decision, and the Ministry prepares the issuance of the certificate of appreciation and honor.

Honor

The certificate of appreciation and honor is signed by the State Minister for Family, Labor, and Social Affairs. The Care Medal and the Certificate of Appreciation and Honor are presented by the State Minister, by a person authorized by the State Minister, or, by special agreement, by another person, such as the mayor of the municipality of residence.

For more information about the award for outstanding service to people with disabilities who require care, please contact the state governments.

The proposal to honor the caregiver must be submitted to the municipality of residence no later than one year after the death of the person with a disability who was receiving care.