What a care home costs in Spain and who pays

Key rules

• Private home: You pay the monthly fee, and a vinculada benefit may cover part of it.
• Public or concertada place: You pay a share of your income and keep a minimum personal allowance; the region pays the rest.
• Accreditation: The vinculada benefit generally only applies to homes accredited by your region.
• Extras: Laundry, podiatry, physio and similar services may cost extra, so read the price list.

The short answer

Who pays depends on the type of place. In a private home you pay the monthly fee, though a dependency benefit may cover part of it. In a public or concertada place you pay a share of your income and the region pays the rest. Extras are often billed on top in private homes.

The comparison table below shows the three types side by side.

What private homes charge

A private home sets a monthly fee. It rises with three things:

• your dependency level
• the room: single costs more than shared
• the location

Inland and rural regions such as Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León tend to be cheapest. Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country and premium coastal or city-centre homes tend to be dearest. Prices change, so get a current quote from each home for your dependency level and room type. The checklist below lists what to ask.

What you pay in a public or concertada place

A concertada place is a private home that the region pays to run as part of the public system. The region sets the price. You pay a share of it, worked out from your income and, to a lesser extent, your assets. The rest is paid by the public body.

In practice, a pensioner usually pays most of their net income, commonly somewhere between 75% and 90%. You always keep a minimum personal allowance for personal spending. Property and savings are counted too, and property is usually counted as a fixed share each year.

The exact percentages and the allowance differ by region and are updated regularly. Ask your regional social-services department for the figure that applies to you.

The vinculada benefit for a private home

The prestación económica vinculada al servicio, called "vinculada" here, is a monthly cash benefit. It is paid when no public place is available and you buy care from a private provider instead.

• The home must be accredited by your region. In many regions, non-accredited homes do not qualify.
• You need a recognised dependency grade and an individual care programme.
• The amount depends on your grade, your income and assets, and the service. It is set each year and varies by region.
• It is usually paid monthly against proof of payment.

The benefit rarely covers the full fee, so you pay the difference. Ask the regional dependency agency whether the home you like is accredited.

Extras and deposits

The monthly fee often does not include everything. Common extras are:

• incontinence products in some homes
• laundry of personal clothes
• podiatry and hairdressing
• physiotherapy beyond the basic programme
• medical transport or accompaniment to appointments
• excursions
• a single-room supplement
• a private phone or television
• special diets
• medication that is not covered

Some homes also ask for a deposit or admission fee on entry, often one month's fee. Read the contract and the price list before you sign, so you know what the fee includes.

Public, subsidised and private care homes compared side by side

The three types of home differ most on who sets the price and who decides where you go. Public and concertada places cost less but come through a long queue. Private homes are quicker and give you more choice, but you pay the full price.

Cost

In a public or concertada place you pay a share of your income, and sometimes your assets count too. Your region sets the share, which depends on your dependency grade and the cost of the place. You always keep a minimum amount for personal expenses.

A private home sets its own monthly fee. The fee rises with your level of dependency, whether the room is shared or single, and the location.

Percentages and allowances differ by region and change over time. Ask your regional social-services department for the current rules, and ask private homes for a written price list.

Waiting

Public places are slow. Nationally, the time from applying for dependency help to receiving a decision has recently averaged roughly 300 to 400 days. Regions differ widely, from under 150 days in some to over 500 in others. After that, a public home place can take several more months or years. Concertada places depend on what your region has available.

If you cannot wait, ask the regional office about concertada places, and ask private homes about vacancies while your application runs.

Choice and control

• Public: You get the place the region offers, so you have little say over the location.
• Concertada: Access normally comes after the dependency decision assigns a residential service. Ask your regional office whether you can name a preferred home.
• Private: You choose the home and agree the terms directly. Visit before you commit.

Which to pick

Choose public or concertada if cost matters most and you can wait. Choose private if you need a place soon or want to choose the home yourself.

Documents you need

• Proof of payment for the care-home service (receipts or invoices), which is needed each month to keep receiving the vinculada benefit.

• The home's accreditation by your region, to show the home qualifies for the vinculada benefit.

• The care-home contract, together with the home's price list, showing what the monthly fee includes and which extras cost more.

Checklist

• Ask each private home for its current monthly price for your dependency level and for a shared or single room.

• Ask the regional social-services department how the contribution for a public or concertada place is worked out from your income and assets.

• Check the minimum personal allowance you keep for personal expenses.

• Ask the regional dependency agency whether the home you like is accredited for the vinculada benefit and what amount you would get for your grade.

• Ask for the home's full price list and read the contract to see what is included in the monthly fee.

• Ask whether the home charges for extras such as incontinence products, laundry, podiatry, hairdressing, physiotherapy, transport, a single-room supplement or special diets.

• Ask whether the home asks for a deposit or admission fee on entry.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep any of my income if I live in a public or concertada place?

Yes, you keep a minimum personal allowance for personal expenses, commonly set around 19% of the IPREM (the public index used to set benefit levels) or similar. The resident usually pays up to about 75-90% of net income toward the place. Your regional social-services department gives the exact figures.

Does the prestación económica vinculada pay for any private care home?

No, it only funds a place in a private home that your region has accredited. It is paid when no public place is available, usually monthly, and you must show proof of payment for the service.

Is a deposit or admission fee normal when entering a private home?

Yes, some homes ask for a deposit or admission fee on entry, often one month's fee. Ask for it in writing before you sign, together with the home's price list.

Do property and savings count when the contribution is worked out?

Yes, assets count too, though to a lesser extent than income. Property is usually counted as a fixed share per year. Your regional social-services department can tell you how it applies to you.