Because life in a nursing home is expensive, pensioners have to pay a certain amount themselves. But how much of the money actually remains untouched when you move into a nursing home?
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around five million people in Germany are in need of care. Of these, around 800,000 live in nursing homes. A place there is not cheap: According to current VDEK figures On average, residents across the country have to pay a monthly personal contribution of 2,783 euros for a place in a home.
In this article, you will learn what influences the personal contribution and how high the so-called protected assets are.
How much is the protected assets in the nursing home in 2024?
When pensioners move into a nursing home, they often worry about their assets. In Germany, although there are payments from the nursing care fund, these are only intended to finance the nursing activities and care that take place in the nursing home. The remaining monthly nursing home costs must then initially be covered by pension and income. If this is not sufficient, savings, shares, real estate, certain insurance policies and assets such as real estate are also used to pay the nursing home fee.
However, an amount must be deducted from the assets – the so-called protected assets or the tax-free allowance. According to the Consumer Center at 10,000 euros per person. “For each additional person who is supported, the allowance is 500 euros. For example, if there are children living in the household, a so-called community of support, a further allowance of 500 euros can be deducted for them,” writes the
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A property can also be considered protected assets, but only if it is lived in by the person in need of care, their spouse or life partner alone or with relatives.
A cash amount, formerly known as “pocket money”, to meet the personal needs of nursing home residents also remains unaffected. This can include costs for a visit to the hairdresser, personal care products or additional payments for medication. According to the nursing protection association BIVA, the amount is at least 27 percent of standard requirement level 1. Since January 2024, the cash amount has been 152.01 euros. However, the pocket money amount only applies to pensioners for whom neither their pension nor assets are sufficient to cover the nursing home fees and who are therefore dependent on social assistance.
Nursing home contribution: This is how much money people in need of care have to contribute
If medical experts confirm that you are in need of care, a care level (between 1 and 5) is determined at the same time. The care level describes how much help a person in need of care needs in everyday life. People with a care level receive monthly payments from the nursing care fund to finance care and support in the home.
According to the German Consumer Center, the nursing care insurance payments are staggered as follows:
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Care level 2 = 770 euros
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Care level 3 = 1262 euros
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Care level 4 = 1775 euros
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Care level 5 = 2005 euros
We have broken down in detail what the care levels mean.
According to the consumer advice center, anyone with care level 1 who decides to receive care in a nursing home will receive a subsidy of 125 euros – the relief amount. From care level 2, nursing home residents also receive a service supplement for inpatient care. This was increased on January 1, 2024 and depends on how long those in need of care have been receiving inpatient care:
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Up to twelve months stay: 15 percent of the personal contribution
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From twelve months stay: 30 percent of the personal contribution
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from 24 months stay: 50 percent of the personal contribution
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from 36 months stay: 75 percent of the personal contribution
But how much is the personal contribution that one has to pay for accommodation in a home? NDRhas calculated and listed the financial burden of a person in need of care based on the national average. According to this, nursing home residents may face the following costs:
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Facility-specific personal contribution (EEE): The share of the care costs in nursing homes that exceeds the benefits paid by the nursing care fund. It applies to all residents with care levels 2 to 5 who live in the same facility, in the same amount, and averaged 1,139 euros in 2022.
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Accommodation and food: On average, these costs were 857 euros.
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Investment costs: This includes expenses for the maintenance and modernization of buildings. This item cost an average of 472 euros.
In this example, the personal contribution amounts to an average of 2,468 euros per month. The previously mentioned subsidy from the nursing care insurance funds could reduce this amount by 15 to 75 percent.
Some people consciously decide against a nursing home and care for their relatives at home. In return, caring relatives can receive money from the person in need of care.
