If you are temporarily unable to receive care at home and semi-residential care is not sufficient, you can receive care for a short period of time in a full-time residential care facility. To be eligible for short-term care, you must be classified at least at Care Level 2 at the time you begin receiving care.

Short-term care is available, for example:

• if the person who cares for you at home is ill
• if your home needs to be modified to accommodate in-home care
• during a transitional period following your inpatient hospital treatment

You are entitled to up to 8 weeks of inpatient short-term care per calendar year.

For short-term care—along with respite care—a “combined annual amount” is available for both respite care and short-term care. In 2026, this amounts to a total of up to 3,539 euros per calendar year. The long-term care insurance fund covers care-related expenses, including expenses for personal assistance and expenses for medical treatment services.

During short-term care, you will continue to receive half of the pro-rated care allowance previously paid. The full care allowance is paid for the first and last days.

In addition, you may also use the relief allowance to cover costs associated with short-term care, such as to finance the costs of room and board. Otherwise, you are responsible for covering the costs of room and board and, if applicable, any capital expenditures.

Short-term care is generally provided in a facility approved for this purpose. You can obtain a list from your long-term care insurance fund.

In justified individual cases, persons in need of care who are cared for at home are also entitled to short-term care in suitable facilities for people with disabilities and other appropriate facilities, if care in a facility approved by the long-term care insurance funds for short-term care is not possible or does not appear reasonable.