Psychiatric aftercare covers all the offerings that stabilise patients after an inpatient or day-care stay in psychiatry and support their return to everyday life.
Goals of aftercare
Stabilising the state of health
Preventing relapses
Promoting independence
Social reintegration (work, housing, relationships)
Note: Aftercare ideally begins during the inpatient stay and is tailored individually to the patient's needs and life situation.
Outpatient options
Supported individual living (ambulant betreutes Einzelwohnen, BEW): hourly support in the person's own home (e.g. household, finances, official errands, social contacts); promotes independence and avoids institutional care.
Supported shared living (ambulant betreute Wohngemeinschaft, ABW): a self-determined living arrangement for 3–12 people with their own rooms, shared spaces and outpatient care as needed.
Outpatient psychiatric nursing (ambulante psychiatrische Pflege, APP): home-based nursing – home visits by nursing staff, support with taking medication, help with daily structure, early crisis detection and psychoeducation.
Sociotherapy (Soziotherapie): enables patients to use medical and therapeutic services independently (structuring daily life, accompanying them to appointments, training illness insight); especially important when illness insight is limited.
Hospital-equivalent treatment at home (stationsäquivalente Behandlung, StäB): an intensive, home-based option that can replace a full inpatient admission; a multi-professional team (doctors, nursing, therapy) treats the patient daily in their familiar environment.
Outpatient psychiatric rehabilitation (APR): an intensive day-clinic measure with interdisciplinary therapies (psychotherapy, occupational therapy, groups); patients spend the evenings at home.
Note: Outpatient psychiatric nursing (APP) is often prescribed by a doctor and financed by the statutory health insurers.
Day-care (partial inpatient) options
Psychiatric day clinic: an intensive therapeutic programme during the day, with evenings and weekends at home; suitable with a stable living situation (often for depression, anxiety and burnout).
Geriatric-psychiatric day clinic: a specialised option for patients from around 60–65 years (e.g. dementia, age-related depression, delirium).
Day centre (Tagesstätte): a low-threshold option providing structure, social participation and activity in a protected setting.
Supported living and inpatient options
Special housing for people with mental illness: an inpatient or day-care option under integration assistance, with everyday assistance and support.
Special housing for people with addiction: a structured living environment with therapeutic support, relapse prevention and daily structure (often around the clock).
Inpatient psychiatric rehabilitation: usually a several-week measure (approx. 3–6 weeks); combines intensive psychotherapy with sports, creative and social therapy.
Medical-vocational rehabilitation (MBR): links health treatment with vocational reintegration; for people whose ability to work is at risk.
Inpatient short-term care (Kurzzeitpflege, KZP): a time-limited, full inpatient option to bridge crises or relieve caring relatives.
Services provided by psychiatric facilities
Depending on the facility and form of care, the following services may be provided:
Psychiatric care: medical, psychotherapeutic and social support for mental illness.
Basic care (SGB XI): support with personal hygiene, nutrition and mobility (from care level 1).
Treatment care (SGB V): doctor-prescribed medical services, financed by the health insurer.
Integration assistance (Eingliederungshilfe): a social benefit to promote participation in society.
Dementia support: guidance and support for people with cognitive impairments.
Supervision and support (Betreuung): activating and accompanying measures in everyday life.
FAQs
What is the difference between outpatient psychiatric nursing (APP) and sociotherapy?
APP is a home-based nursing service with measures such as administering medication, early crisis detection and structuring daily life. Sociotherapy enables patients to use medical and therapeutic services independently (e.g. accompanying them to appointments, training illness insight) – especially useful when illness insight is limited.
What is the difference between a day clinic and a day centre?
The psychiatric day clinic is a medical facility with an intensive therapy programme (doctor, nursing, therapy) financed by the health insurer. The day centre is a low-threshold, social-psychiatric daytime option for structure, social contact and activity – without the medical treatment character of a day clinic.
What is hospital-equivalent treatment (StäB) and who is it suitable for?
StäB is a home-based option that can replace a full inpatient admission. It is for patients with an acute treatment need who are treated at home daily by a multi-professional team – suitable when the home environment is stable and an inpatient admission is to be avoided.
Which options are there specifically for older psychiatric patients?
For older patients (usually from 65) there are specialised options such as the geriatric-psychiatric day clinic for day-care treatment. Typical conditions are dementia, age-related depression and delirium.
Who finances outpatient psychiatric nursing (APP)?
APP is often prescribed by a doctor and financed by the statutory health insurers.