Insurance coverage for people with dementia: How to protect yourself!

Insurance coverage for people with dementia: How to protect yourself!

The challenges of living with dementia often only become apparent through incidents such as accidents or damage. This is shown by a current case of an 82-year-old woman who lives in a retirement home and suffers from early dementia. When she tipped over a pot of paint while painting, damage was caused to the floor tiles, which was initially repaired but could not be completely removed from the joints. Despite her efforts to remove the paint with various cleaning products, the damage has increased. In this situation, her private liability insurance refuses to cover the costs because the mother is considered to be mentally incompetent, which highlights a fundamental problem associated with dementia that affects many relatives. Untersee News reports on this case and the associated legal dispute.

Legal advisor Thomas Müller strongly recommends not accepting the insurance company's decision. He argues that the mother had a certain awareness of injustice during the incident and therefore cannot be generally classified as incapable of judgment. In his opinion, the use of unsuitable cleaning products is not enough to cast doubt on a woman's judgment. Müller suggests insisting on coverage of the damage and, if necessary, involving the private insurance ombudsman.

Dementia and insurance law

The Ombudsman has also criticized in the past that insurers often irrevocably view people with dementia as incapable of making decisions. This assessment is problematic because dementia does not automatically mean that a person has no capacity to judge. Specialists must make such determinations. It is therefore recommended that insurance providers become more transparent about their policies and their conditions for people with dementia.

In addition, the Rhineland-Palatinate Consumer Center points out that many older people with dementia live alone, which means they can unknowingly cause damage. A common example is a 78-year-old woman who forgets to turn off the stove, causing a fire. Even if no one was significantly injured in this case, such incidents often cause significant property damage and the question arises as to which insurance covers this and how those affected and their relatives can protect themselves. Consumer advice center has compiled important information on this topic.

Insurance coverage for people with dementia

It should be noted that private liability insurance and accident insurance are particularly important. Private liability insurance protects against financial consequences caused by damage to other people or their property. However, many people with advanced dementia are considered to be incapable of committing a crime, which can lead to problems in securing coverage for the damage they cause. However, a special additional clause can help regulate this ever-increasing problem.

Accident insurance, on the other hand, offers financial protection in the event of accidents that can lead to permanent health damage. People with dementia have an increased risk of accidents, which is why it is important to choose insurance that also covers old age and existing pre-existing illnesses. The consumer advice center offers some tips to properly protect yourself:

• Demenzklausel prüfen: Private Haftpflichtversicherung sollte eine Demenzklausel enthalten.
• Unfallversicherung anpassen: Versicherung wählen, die auch im hohen Alter und bei Demenz greift.
• Frühzeitig informieren: Rechtzeitige Absicherung kann Ärger und finanzielle Belastungen ersparen.

In conclusion, it can be said that adequate insurance coverage is extremely important for people with dementia. Good insurance can not only prevent financial damage, but also ensure more security in everyday life. The consumer advice center offers free initial advice on accident and liability insurance in order to offer affected families the best possible support.