Subsidized shared care home - an alternative for old age
Together instead of alone, self-determined instead of in a home: a shared care home has many advantages and is financially supported by care insurance. Care insurance supports shared care homes for senior citizens with start-up funding, a subsidy for measures to improve the living environment and a group living allowance.
Read more in this article:
- What is a subsidized residential group?
- What are the advantages of a subsidized residential group?
- What are the requirements for a subsidized residential group?
- Benefit from our cooperation with Bring-together
- Financial incentives for setting up an outpatient assisted living group
- What costs are incurred by residents of a residential group?
- Checklist: How do you set up a subsidized housing group?
- Various care options in the shared flat
- Is a shared care home right for me?
- Conclusion: a personal decision
What is a subsidized residential group?
In a subsidized living group, several people with a care degree, but also relatives without a care degree, move into a shared apartment or property. You can set up a residential group yourself or move into a subsidized residential group.
What are the advantages of a subsidized residential group?
- You have your own room, which you can design as you wish and in which you can retreat.
- You can set up a residential group in your current living environment and continue to live close to family and friends.
- You decide how many and which people you want to live with.
- The residential group offers a sociable social life, as there is always someone nearby.
- Unlike in a care home, residents decide for themselves how to organize their everyday lives.
- Relatives without a care degree can also move into a subsidized residential group.
What are the requirements for a subsidized residential group?
A minimum of three and a maximum of 12 people with care levels 1 to 5 can live together in a subsidized residential group. People without a care level (e.g. relatives) can also move in. However, they do not receive a living group supplement.
Please note: The residents of the residential group must have moved in for the purpose of shared care. It is not possible for three people with a care degree who have already lived together for family reasons - e.g. a married couple and an aunt - to move into a subsidized residential group. At least one person must be a new resident (BSG ruling of 18.02.2016 B3P5/14R).
Benefit from our cooperation with Bring-together
Bring-together is a matching platform for shared living that helps you find suitable housing projects, properties and like-minded people in your area.
Employees of our client companies with a corresponding contract can take advantage of the Bring together offer at reduced rates: The pme Familienservice will cover the costs for six months at the 65 Euro Plus rate. If you do not extend your contract, it will end automatically after this period.
Please contact our service hotline at 0800 801007080. The pme Familienservice will place your request on the Bring Together matching platform and actively support you in the next steps.
You are not yet a customer of pme Familienservice? Please contact us!
The pme Familienservice and bring-together organize free quarterly info webinars on the topic of supported living groups.
You will learn more about the establishment, promotion and organization of residential care groups and receive valuable impulses on how to find the best way for you and your relatives - regardless of whether you already have concrete plans or would like to get a taste of it first.
Financial incentives for setting up an outpatient assisted living group
Start-up funding for setting up a residential group
If you have a suitable apartment or house, you can set up a residential group yourself and offer rooms to others. You can use the start-up funding for this: The funding for setting up a new group home is a one-off amount of 2,613 euros for each eligible person (minimum care level 1), up to a maximum of 10452 euros per residential group (see § 45e SGB XI).
The requirements are the same as for the monthly residential group allowance (minimum three, maximum 12 people with care degree 1 - 5). The start-up funding must be applied for within one year of setting up the residential group, but the application can also be submitted before setting up and moving in.
Residential group supplement
The residential group supplement of 224 euros per month per person in need of care can be used to employ a residential group manager who provides organizational, administrative, housekeeping or care support independently of care. They do not need a special professional qualification for this. It is important that they take on tasks for the group, but not assistance for individual residents. The residential group manager is to be appointed by the members of the residential group when it is newly established.
Important: Only the residential group management may be financed via the residential group supplement.
The residential group allowance is based on § 38a SGB XI and is applied for from the long-term care insurance. To do this, you must prove that you have a care degree, that a residential group exists and that a person has already been found and appointed to manage the residential group (name and contact details are sufficient here).
Subsidy for measures to improve the living environment
People in need of care from care level 1 can apply for a grant of up to €4,000 from the care insurance fund to convert a home so that home care is possible (Section 40 (4) SGB XI). A maximum of four residents with a care degree can receive this subsidy, for example for a shared kitchen or a bathroom and toilet that can be easily used by people in need of care.
The subsidy is therefore capped at a total of 16,000 euros per residential group. If more than four people live in the residential group, the money is divided according to the number of residents. If there are eight people, each receives 2,000 euros. If the care situation changes, the subsidy can be applied for a second time - for example, if a resident needs a wheelchair and a ramp to the house is required.
Pooling of benefits from long-term care insurance and health insurance
The major advantage of shared accommodation is the pooling of services. For example, several people can hire the same care service and thus afford additional care times. More efficient solutions can also be found for household tasks such as cooking.
What costs are incurred by residents of a residential group?
The costs for the residential group are made up of the following components for each roommate:
- (Pro rata) basic rent for the room,
- Contribution to the costs of the common rooms,
- (proportionate) ancillary costs (electricity, water, heating, TV, internet, telephone, etc.),
- If applicable, costs for auxiliary staff (house cleaning etc.).
A subsidized group home is significantly cheaper than inpatient living. Currently, the monthly co-payments for full inpatient care are at least €2,500 per month, and can be significantly higher locally.
What can the tenancy look like?
There are three possible variants for a subsidized residential group:
One resident is the main tenant, all other subtenants.
The community concludes a tenancy agreement with the landlord. All residents are listed in the contract. The contract must be amended each time there is a change of tenant.
Each tenant concludes an individual rental agreement with the landlord for their private space and for the shared use of the communal areas. The advantage: this option means the least effort for the other residents if a member moves out. In addition, only the tenant concerned is liable for the rent payments and any damage caused by him/her.
Checklist: How do you set up a subsidized housing group?
Setting up a shared care home requires careful planning. Here is a checklist that provides a clear overview of the process:
Find or provide a suitable property
- Ensure accessibility.
- Plan common rooms (kitchen, living room, bathroom).
- Create retreats for all residents.
Assemble group
- Find people in need of care with care level 1 to 5 (3-12 people)
- Involve relatives or other interested parties without a care degree.
Submit applications
- Apply for start-up funding from the care insurance fund (up to 1 year after moving in).
- Find a residential group manager, apply for a residential group allowance.
- Apply for grants for measures to improve the living environment (before construction begins).
Draw up a housing group contract and house rules
- Define tasks and duties for all residents.
- Create care services and care plans.
Select residential group management
- Appoint and employ a person for organizational tasks.
Organize care services and health insurance benefits
- Coordinate care, support and housekeeping services with care services
Various care options in the shared flat
One of the great strengths of a shared care home is the flexibility of the care arrangements. Residents decide for themselves how and by whom they would like to be cared for. There are various options:
Care by relatives or lay people: If family members or volunteers provide care, the care insurance pays care allowance. This money can be used to support the carer.
Care provided by an outpatient service: This is where the so-called benefits in kind from the long-term care insurance come into play, which covers the costs of a professional care service.
One special feature is the pooling of services: If several residents opt for the same care service, the services can be used jointly. This increases efficiency and often allows for additional care times. Important: Each resident can also opt for their own care service, but then the cost benefits of pooling no longer apply.
Is a shared care home right for me?
A shared care home is more than just an alternative living model - it requires openness, a sense of community and a willingness to compromise. Before you decide on this form of living, you should honestly check whether living in such a community meets your needs.
The shared care home is a good choice if you
value sociability and community: In a shared care home, you live with other people. There will always be someone nearby with whom you can talk, share everyday life or do something.
are open to compromise: Shared living requires flexibility. You not only share rooms such as the kitchen or living room, but also decisions - such as how to organize your daily life or care arrangements.
want to play an active role: Many shared care homes rely on the active participation of their members. Whether it's cooking, shopping or looking after the shared garden - you are expected to get involved in the everyday life of the group as much as possible. This is a good way to stay active.
Conclusion: a personal decision
The decision to move into a shared care home depends very much on your personal needs and lifestyle. For sociable people who want to remain active in old age and take on responsibility in everyday life, a shared care home offers many advantages. It not only offers support with care, but also a social environment that protects against loneliness. However, anyone who needs a lot of privacy and finds it difficult to compromise should think carefully about whether a shared care apartment is the right choice.
