The question of who pays for a care home causes families a lot of anxiety, especially when there's a fear that the cost of a loved one's stay will fall on every relative. The rules for fees at a social welfare home are set by law and aren't nearly as unpredictable as they sometimes seem. This article explains who bears the cost of a stay in a DPS, and in what order. It's informational; for a specific case it's worth consulting a social welfare centre or a lawyer. It describes the framework in Poland.
The basic rule: the resident first
First in line to pay for a stay in a DPS is the resident, but not from their entire income. The law provides that they pay a fee of no more than 70% of their income, such as a pension or disability benefit. The rest of their income stays at their disposal. If that amount covers the full cost of the stay, it's simple and ends there.
When the senior's income isn't enough
The cost of a stay in a DPS often exceeds 70% of a pension. In that case, the immediate family is next obliged to cover the difference, meaning the spouse, then children and grandchildren, under what's known as the maintenance duty. If they too can't bear the cost, the municipality covers the rest. Importantly, the family's share isn't set arbitrarily, but depends on their income situation, and people on low incomes may be exempt from it.
When the family can be exempt from the fee
The law provides for situations in which relatives can be exempted from the duty to contribute, for example when their own income is too low, or when there are special circumstances, such as the senior's earlier gross neglect of family duties towards that person. However, exemption has to be applied for and documented; it doesn't happen automatically. This is one reason it's worth talking to the social welfare centre openly and early.
Fees in a private facility work differently
The whole mechanism above applies to social welfare homes. In a private care home there's no administrative decision or maintenance duty set by the municipality; the cost follows directly from the contract and is covered by the resident or family on a civil basis. We describe the differences between the two forms in our article on public vs private care homes.
How to prepare for a conversation about fees
- Gather information about the senior's income; that's where setting the fee starts.
- Check which benefits and allowances the senior already receives or could obtain.
- Find out at the social welfare centre how the family's share is calculated.
- Ask about the possibility of exemption and the required documents.
- In case of doubt, consult a lawyer.
How to lower the real cost
Before you're alarmed by the figures, check what support your loved one is entitled to, because funding and benefits can significantly lower the real cost of a stay. We describe available forms of help in our article on funding for a care home. And if you're looking for a facility that fits the family budget, you can use our free help choosing a care home.
Fees for a DPS rest on a clear order: the resident first, then the family as far as they're able, and the municipality last. Understanding this rule lets you approach the topic calmly, without imagining costs detached from reality.
