Living in old age: moving into a care home

People in need of care who can no longer cope with everyday life in their own four walls have a number of options for getting help. The last and sometimes best option is to move into a care home. This raises a number of questions for owners and their relatives. How do I find suitable accommodation? And what should become of the property?

Once the decision to move into a care home has been made, the next step is to organize the move. External professional expertise should not be overlooked here. The care insurance companies can help with the search for a suitable home. When it comes to real estate, a regional estate agent knows what options are available. They can offer individual and suitable solutions.

Let, bequeath or sell after all?

Often the property should remain in the family. However, this is not always feasible. Anyone considering renting out the property must be aware that they will have a number of obligations and rights. The rental agreements must be legally secure and the building must be managed and maintained. Depending on the condition of the property, money may have to be spent in advance on energy-efficient refurbishment or modernization.

Another solution is to bequeath the property. Either as a prior heir or with a will. But beware: in addition to the testamentary beneficiaries, other relatives will later also have a legal right to the property inheritance. Communities of heirs often form, which in the worst case can lead to legal disputes. Family disputes are also common in the case of prior inheritance.

Selling a property is primarily an option if no one wants to live in the property, if renting is out of the question for various reasons or if relatives cannot afford a property that still needs to be financed. But even if relatives live far away and bring their parents into a nearby care home, selling is often the best solution. A sale can also be used to pay the costs of the home. The decision on what to do with the property should be carefully considered. It is therefore always a good idea to bring a regional estate agent on board as a real estate expert.

Finding a good nursing home

Retirement homes often do not have the best reputation. Overworked staff, too little time for residents and poor treatment are just some of the reasons for this. This makes choosing the right retirement home all the more important. In 2019, the state introduced a Quality inspection of the homes which is not only carried out by the homes themselves. External specialist bodies also carry out the inspection. The results of the quality inspection can be obtained via the care insurance funds such as the AOK nursing home search or the Company health insurance fund find one. But before embarking on the search, those affected and their relatives should make a checklist of all the important conditions, wishes and needs in advance. A visit to potential facilities is also essential when choosing the right home.

Are you looking for a solution for a property because one of your relatives is moving into a nursing home? Get in touch with us! We will be happy to support you.

Notes

For reasons of better readability, the generic masculine is used in this text. Female and other gender identities are explicitly included where this is necessary for the statement.

Legal notice: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice in individual cases. Please consult a lawyer and/or tax advisor to clarify the facts of your specific individual case.

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