Guide
Finding a short-term care place: steps and checklist.
In short: short-term care is care in a care home for a limited time, for example after a hospital stay. Before confirming a place, care homes mainly need the period, the care level, the care required and who pays. Contact several care homes at the same time.
Who may cover the costs
With care level 2 to 5, the long-term care insurance fund can cover short-term care if care at home is temporarily not possible – for example in a transition period after a hospital stay (Section 42 SGB XI). The benefit is limited. Ask your long-term care insurance fund about the amount and how it combines with other benefits.
Without care level 2 to 5, the health insurance fund can cover short-term care in certain cases after a serious illness or a hospital stay (Section 39c SGB V). Ask your health insurance fund or the social service.
As a rule, you pay for accommodation, meals and investment costs yourself. Ask the care home in advance which costs remain with you.
Read more: Request short-term care
The details care homes need
With these details a care home can judge whether it can offer a place:
At the start, only give what is needed for the decision. The care home usually needs the name, address and medical letters only once a place is an option.
How to proceed
1. Clarify the period
Clarify the discharge date with the social service and how long short-term care is likely to last.
2. Contact several care homes
Places are often scarce. Contact several care homes in the region at the same time.
3. Clarify costs and admission
Ask about the own contribution, the admission day and what to bring.
4. Record the confirmation
Have the start and period confirmed and inform the hospital.
Requesting care via Pflege Patienten
One option among several: on Pflege Patienten you describe the care need once. Registered care providers in the region whose offer matches the need are informed and get in touch if they can offer a place.
The platform cannot promise a confirmation or a particular waiting time. You arrange the place directly with the care home.
What this guide does not cover
This guide gives a general overview. It does not replace personal advice from your long-term care insurance fund, your health insurance fund or your doctor.
Whether and to what extent the long-term care insurance fund or the health insurance fund covers short-term care is decided by the funds in each individual case.
Read more: Find care for yourself or your relatives · How Pflege Patienten works
Professional basis and status
Show sources and status
Pflege Patienten editorial team · Published 11 Oct 2026.
We deliberately do not state benefit amounts because they change. Your long-term care insurance fund or health insurance fund can tell you the current amounts.
- Section 42 SGB XI – short-term care (German)
- Section 39c SGB V – short-term care without need for long-term care (German)
- Federal Ministry of Health (German) Further information
Editorial status: 11 October 2026. The linked sources were checked by the editorial team.
Requesting short-term care
How private individuals request short-term care is shown on the page “Find short-term care”. Social services find the workflow on the page for hospitals.