Payment for a Nursing Home Place

1. If you wish for the local government to partially cover the cost of a nursing home place, you must first contact the municipality where the person in need resides. It is essential to contact the local authority of the elderly person’s registered place of residence.
2. As of July 1, 2023, the care reform came into effect, changing the funding model for nursing home places. According to the law, local governments cover the care component — the personnel costs of caregivers and assistant caregivers. This includes wages, work clothing, protective equipment, health checks, vaccinations, and training or supervision costs. It’s important to note that the funding limits set by local municipalities vary greatly across Estonia and in some areas cover only part of the care cost.
3. The care cost invoice is sent by the nursing home directly to the local government, while the remaining co-payment is made by the elderly person or their family. For example, if the care cost is €650 and the municipality’s funding limit is €600, the local authority will cover €600, and the remaining €50 must be paid by the resident or family. If the limit is €650, the municipality covers the full care component. Exact amounts can be obtained from the respective municipality.
4. The accommodation fees for Südamekodud are listed on each home’s website. The cost of a nursing home place depends on several components:

• The assessed level of care need — there are four levels, from low to very high care needs.
• Whether the resident is accommodated in a private or shared room.
• The location of the specific nursing home and the building’s maintenance costs.

5. KFor those with incomes below the average pension, the local government may also partially reimburse accommodation and meal costs.

The Role of Local Government

1. The task of the local government is to assess the elderly person’s need for care — determining what kind of help and to what extent is needed. Sometimes family medicine specialists assist social workers in this process.
2. When applying for a nursing home, it is advisable to have the local government’s assessment of care needs already completed. However, in Estonia, some municipalities do not refer elderly people to care homes until a place is reserved. Therefore, always start by contacting your local government and finding out how the process works in your municipality. If you already have a specific nursing home in mind, be sure to inform the social worker.
3. You can also ask your local government’s social worker for advice about nursing homes or do your own research — find out which homes are available in your area, what services they offer, and visit them in person. Before making a final decision, we recommend visiting the homes on site. If you wish to choose Südamekodud, please let us know in advance and arrange a meeting with the manager of the respective home.
4. After the care needs assessment, the elderly person or their family can, either independently or with the help of a social worker, choose a suitable nursing home and submit a request to reserve a place. Südamekodud has a dedicated webpage “Add to Queue”, where you can select the preferred care home and fill in the application. Once submitted, you will be added to the waiting list, and the respective Südamekodu manager will contact you shortly.