Nursing and care homes

Although a number of very large care homes with hundreds of places still exist, the trend is towards smaller, local in-patient facilities or in-house care units in residential homes. The best home for the person’s needs will depend not least on their actual care requirements.

In addition to state-run and denominational facilities, more and more private operators have started recently to provide services in the form of residential and care homes. Retirement villages are one such service. They offer homes of various sizes and configurations for rent, including full board, as in a hotel. Even intensive care needs are catered for individually, although special services in addition to the standard package may entail additional costs.

Many care homes provide short-term or holiday residential care for a short period (several weeks) following hospitalisation, while the primary carer is on holiday or at a health resort.

Your local government department can provide information on nursing and care homes in your area^{German text}. You can also contact your local^{German text}, or municipal authority^{German text} or district commission^{German text} for further information.