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24.04.2026 Christin Müller 6346

The successful "Health Day" program is being expanded to include "Health Week"

(Berlin, April 24, 2026) Health Day is back—and bigger than ever this year! Because one day isn’t enough, the pme Familienservice is expanding its successful digital health event into Health Week in 2026. A whole week full of inspiration, live challenges, and community—with Health Day on October 8 as the highlight.

This program is designed for all companies and organizations that wish to provide their employees with innovative ways to promote health and well-being—regardless of industry, role, or position.

New in 2026: Health Week



Health Week, taking place from October 5 to 9, 2026, brings fresh inspiration to the workplace every day: from a daily sleep challenge and power breaks to boost resilience, to yoga and relaxation, as well as lectures on longevity, nutrition, family health, and artificial intelligence. Interactive Q&A sessions, practical exercises, and a digital community ensure that these health initiatives have a lasting impact.

All sessions are available live and as recordings.

Michèle Penz, Head of Occupational Health Management at pme Familienservice:

"With Health Week, the pme Familienservice is setting an example for modern, practical health promotion—and turning health into a shared experience."

Highlight of the week: Health Day on October 8, 2026

More than 30,000 people have already benefited from Health Day. In 2026, this successful event will take place for the fifth time and once again offer an inspiring program. Under the theme "AI will survive?", the four-hour livestream will explore how people can stay healthy, clear-headed, and confident in a world where algorithms never tire. 

Health Day highlights ways to boost physical and mental health as well as resilience. Viewers will learn how to listen to their inner selves, better manage stress, and use artificial intelligence in ways that support their health rather than creating additional stress—even amid the demands of daily life, balancing work, family, and career.

Here are the speakers for 2026:

Carolin Kebekus (comedian, host, and author) speaks with humor and honesty about mental health as she balances her career and family life.

Dr. Esser explainshow artificial intelligence can help us get and stay healthy in our daily lives.

Elena Semechin (Paralympic champion and entrepreneur) explains how, as a top athlete with a visual impairment, she makes decisions based on perception and intuition, and how AI supports her in her daily life.

Inga Bergen (healthcare entrepreneur and AI expert) explains how Gen Z is transforming the healthcare sector with its tech-savvy mindset and what older generations can learn from this.

Philipp Möller (forensic pathologist)demonstrates how our lifestyle leaves its mark on the body and speaks openly about how he copes with the psychological stresses of his profession.

For more information on the topics and how to register, please visit the Health Day & Health Week landing page.

About Health Day & Health Week

The pme Health Day will take place for the fifth time as a livestream in 2026 (in 2021 it was still known as “Digital Health Day”). Over the past few years, it has established itself as a major event in the field of workplace health promotion. More than 30,000 viewers have benefited from the inspiring insights of renowned speakers and industry professionals.

These speakers have previously appeared at our Health Days: Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen, Prof. Dr. Dietrich Grönemeyer, Samuel Koch, Dr. Johannes Wimmer, Dr. Leon Windscheid, Miriam Höller, Steffi Jones, Dr. Pop, Patricia Cammarata, Nathalie Stüben, Bastienne Neumann, and many more.

In 2026, Health Day will be expanded for the first time into a full week of health initiatives—Health Week. It will offer concise tips, live challenges, and a community for sharing ideas and staying motivated.

Companies across the country can sign up for this interactive program for their employees to provide them with valuable insights into their health.

About the pme Familienservice – Provider of EAP and work-life balance services since 1992 

On behalf of more than 1,400 employers, the pme Familienservice helps employees successfully balance their professional and personal lives so they can work with peace of mind. 
The pme Familienservice has a presence in more than 70 locations across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic and employs over 2,000 staff members as well as numerous experts from various fields. Learn more about the pme Familienservice here:familienservice  

zero Vacation for family caregivers: how it works

Old woman in a wheelchair
Age & care
23.03.2026 Gabriele Strasser 32754

Vacation for family caregivers? This is how it works!

Many family caregivers would like to take a break now and then—perhaps for a vacation, when they’re sick, or simply to recharge. But what happens to the caregiving during that time?

The good news: Long-term care insurance supports family caregivers when they are temporarily unable to provide care. Benefits are available to help arrange substitute care at home or temporary care in a long-term care facility.
Since the 2025 long-term care reform, these benefits canbe used with greater flexibility.

Read more in this article:

Organizing respite care at home 

If family caregivers are unable to provide care—for example, due to vacation, illness, or other commitments—another person can temporarily take over the caregiving duties. This service is called respite care. Care can continue to be provided in the person’s own home . Various forms of support are available:

  • Care provided by family members (restrictions for close relatives).
  • Support from friends, neighbors, or other people you know well.
  • Use of an outpatient nursing service.
  • A team of several helpers.

Respite care can be arranged on an hourly basis (less than 8 hours per day), on a daily basis, or for several weeks (more than 8 hours per day).

Good to know!

For close relatives up to the second degree of kinship, the long-term care insurance fund reimburses twice the amount of the care allowance, but not the annual respite care budget.

Temporary care in a nursing facility (short-term care)

Sometimes it makes more sense for the person in need of care to be temporarily cared for in a facility. This is the case, for example, when

  • when family caregivers go on longer trips,
  • more extensive care is needed,
  • home care is temporarily not possible.

In such cases, the person in need of care can be placed in a nursing home with short-term care beds for a limited period of time.

In addition to nursing care, short-term care often provides social activities and structure in daily life. Many families also use it as an opportunity to get to know an inpatient facility without any obligation.

Who is eligible for respite care and short-term care?

People in need of care who have been assigned at least care level 2 and who are primarily cared for at home are eligible for respite care and short-term care.

Applications for benefits on behalf of the person in need of care are submitted to the relevant long-term care insurance fund.

Important to know!

There is no longer a specific minimum duration requirement for home care. In principle, these benefits can be accessed as soon as the recipient is classified at care level 2 or higher and the care is primarily organized privately.

How much is the relief budget?

Since July 2025, there has been a single annual respite care budget for respite and short-term care. Those in need of care have up to 3,539 euros per calendar year available for this purpose. This budget can be used flexibly, for example:

  • fully covered for respite care,
  • fully covered for short-term care,
  • combined for both services.

Both respite care and short-term care can be utilized for up to eight weeks per year . However, the actual duration of these services depends on how quickly the shared budget is exhausted.

Important to know!

In the case of daily respite care (8 hours or more per day, e.g., when the caregiver is on vacation), the care allowance is reduced to 50%, except on the first and last days of the absence.

For hourly respite care (less than 8 hours per day, e.g., for an afternoon yoga class), the care allowance continues to be paid in full. In the latter case, the joint respite care budget of €3,539 can be spread out over the entire year.

What should you keep in mind when planning a vacation?

When planning a vacation , it’s a good idea to think counter-cyclically: Most Germans take their vacations during the summer and Christmas breaks. As a result, care services and short-term care facilities have limited capacity during these periods. It’s easier to find alternative care options outside of the vacation seasons.

"I highly recommend that all caregivers take advantage of this budget provided by the long-term care insurance fund to give themselves a break. It allows you to recharge your batteries and step back from the daily routine of caregiving. For those in need of care, respite care or short-term care is often an interesting and enriching experience as well. Short-term care, in particular, is an ideal way to get a feel for living in a care facility for a short time, with no obligation." Jürgen Griesbeck, Product Manager for Homecare and Eldercare, pme Familienservice

pme Familienservice Group - Your EAP provider since 1991

On behalf of more than 900 employers, the pme Familienservice Group supports employees in achieving a successful work-life balance and being able to work with a clear head.
The pme Familienservice Group supports employees in crises, e.g. conflicts at work, addiction or partnership problems. With a homecare eldercare service, it relieves the burden on professionals in organizing and financing care services and offers psychosocial support. The pme Academy offers seminars, workshops and coaching on the topics of personnel management and development.
You can find out more about the pme Familienservice Group here: www.familienservice.de/wer-wir-sind

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