Care Homes in Austria: Costs, Payment and Personal Allowance in 2026

When care at home, including mobile social services, is no longer sufficient, an Alten- und Pflegeheim may be considered. This guide explains how admission works, how costs are paid and what remains available to the resident. It reflects the situation in 2026.

When might a care home be appropriate?

The likelihood of needing care generally increases with age. Many people use mobile social services to remain at home for as long as possible. If these services can no longer cover the required care, moving to an old people's or nursing home may be possible.

Admission is based on the Prinzip der Freiwilligkeit: nobody may be admitted without their express consent.

How can someone apply for admission?

Depending on the provider, a written application may be required. The application will generally include:

• personal identity documents,
• documents proving the need for care, such as medical certificates,
• documents showing the applicant's financial situation.

Contact the home's management, or Heimverwaltung, early to find out which steps and documents are required. A sample home contract, known as a Musterheimvertrag, is also available for download.

How much does a care home cost?

There is no uniform price. Costs depend mainly on:

• the federal province where the home is located,
• whether the home is publicly operated or privately operated.

Many homes charge two main components: a basic amount and a supplement based on the resident's care needs. The supplement is usually linked to the level of Pflegegeld. The source does not specify general fixed amounts, so you must ask the individual home about its current fees.

Who pays the costs?

Financing generally follows a step-by-step system:

1. The resident's own income is used first, including Pflegegeld, a pension or annuity, and any other income.
2. If this does not cover the full cost, Sozialhilfe or Mindestsicherung generally pays the difference, subject to the conditions set out in the applicable Sozialhilfeausführungsgesetz.

How much personal allowance remains?

If Sozialhilfe contributes to the costs, the resident receives a monthly personal allowance, or Taschengeld. The amounts are:

• Pension, including Sonderzahlungen: 20 percent remains with the resident.
• Pflegegeld: 10 percent of the level 3 Pflegegeld remains with the resident.

Can authorities use a person's assets? The end of the Pflegeregress

Since 1 January 2018, the Verbot des Pflegeregresses has prohibited using assets to cover care costs through Sozialhilfe. The prohibition applies to:

• the person living in the care institution,
• their relatives,
• their heirs,
• people who received a gift from them.

The rule is included in the ASVG and applies throughout Austria. Since 1 January 2018, such claims for reimbursement may not be enforced. Pending proceedings had to be discontinued, and conflicting provincial rules ceased to apply.

Temporary placement and short-term care

A care home does not necessarily have to be a permanent solution. Three temporary options are available:

• Übergangspflege: care only for the period in which it is needed, for example rehabilitation after a hospital stay.
• Kurzzeitpflege: when a family member providing care cannot do so temporarily, for example for health or work-related reasons.
• Urlaubspflege: to give family carers a break while they are on holiday.

For temporary accommodation, it is advisable not to give up the person's home immediately.

How to choose a suitable care home

The Nationales Qualitätszertifikat für Alten- und Pflegeheime (NQZ) may be awarded to homes that regularly work to improve residents' quality of life. The requirements include an established quality management system and a self-assessment.

The publication Wohnen im Altenheim can be ordered for a fee. It provides criteria for choosing a home and covers costs as well as the rights of residents and relatives.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone be forced to move into a care home?

No. Admission is voluntary and requires the person's express consent.

Do children have to pay their parents' care home costs?

Under Sozialhilfe, using relatives' assets to cover care costs has been prohibited since 1 January 2018.

How much money remains with the resident if Sozialhilfe contributes?

Each month, 20 percent of the pension, including Sonderzahlungen, remains with the resident, together with 10 percent of the level 3 Pflegegeld.

Do all care homes cost the same?

No. The price depends on the federal province and on whether the home is publicly or privately operated.

Practical steps

1. Discuss whether mobile social services can still meet the person's care needs.
2. Contact the selected home's Heimverwaltung and ask about availability, admission requirements and current fees.
3. Collect identity documents, medical evidence of the need for care and proof of income and assets.
4. Ask which part of the cost is covered by Pflegegeld and which income must be paid towards the home.
5. If the resident's income is insufficient, ask the relevant provincial authority about Sozialhilfe or Mindestsicherung and the applicable Sozialhilfeausführungsgesetz.
6. For temporary care, check Übergangspflege, Kurzzeitpflege or Urlaubspflege before ending the person's housing arrangement.
7. Compare homes and check whether they hold the Nationales Qualitätszertifikat für Alten- und Pflegeheime (NQZ).

This information is based on sources available online and is not professional advice. For individual guidance, consult a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional or another relevant specialist. Source: oesterreich.gv.at