Senior Care: How to Get Help for Your Parents and What You’re Entitled To

Quick Overview

What options are available for senior care?

• In-home care: The senior stays at home and receives help from family, a home care service, or a personal assistant.
• Day and weekly care centers: These provide assistance and activities during the day or part of the week.
• Assisted living facilities: These offer independent living with the option to use caregiving services.
• Residential careservices for seniors: Nursing homes and specialized care facilities provide long-term housing and regular assistance.
• Care Allowance: In 2026, the monthly amount for adults ranges from 1,300 to 27,000 CZK, depending on the level of dependency.

Not sure what assistance you’re entitled to? If the authorities have denied you a care allowance or you disagree with the amount awarded, our attorneys will help you review the decision and determine the next steps.

Care Allowance

Anyone who is dependent on the assistance of another person for daily functioning is eligible for a care allowance. This may include a person with a physical or mental disability, an elderly person with reduced mobility, or someone suffering from dementia—conditions that prevent them from functioning normally.

The allowance should therefore enable such a person to finance care, for example, from a care service or a family member who is often forced to quit their own job to provide full-time care for the person in need.

Levels and Amounts of the Care Allowance

The conditions for granting a care allowance and the four levels of dependency are governed by the Social Services Act. The decisive factor is how many basic daily living activities a person is unable to perform independently due to a long-term adverse health condition.

Please note: The amount of the benefit depends not only on the medical diagnosis, but primarily on how the illness or disability limits a person in their daily life. Therefore, two seniors with the same illness may be assigned different levels of dependency.

Basic daily living needs include: mobility, orientation, communication, eating, dressing and putting on shoes, personal hygiene, toileting, health care, personal activities, and household chores.

How to Apply for the Allowance

There are two ways to apply for the allowance:

1. Online: Either through an electronic submission—for which you’ll need a qualified certificate for an electronic signature—or via a data box. Completed and signed forms must then be submitted to the Czech Republic’s Labor Office.
2. In person: You can also apply using the traditional method. You can then deliver the completed application in person to a regional branch of the Czech Labor Office or send it by mail.

What Is Assessed

After the application is submitted , the person’s condition is assessed to determine the degree of dependency and the amount of the benefit. First and foremost, the social aspect is evaluated to determine the person’s ability to function independently in their natural social environment. In addition, however, the person’s health status is also assessed based on medical reports.

Simplified Procedure for the Terminally Ill: Starting in September 2025, a special procedure applies to individuals in the terminal stage of an incurable illness who require palliative care. If they submit the required certification from an authorized attending physician, they are considered to be in Level III dependency for a period of 12 calendar months from the date the application is filed. In such cases, the agency does not conduct a standard social investigation or health assessment.

What to Watch Out for in Practice: One common mistake when applying for a care allowance is that the family focuses primarily on the senior’s medical diagnoses but fails to explain how these specifically affect their daily life. However, for the purpose of assessing eligibility, it is important to consider, for example, whether the senior can dress themselves, eat, follow a treatment regimen, or move around safely.

Real-life example: Who decides on care when siblings disagree?

Imagine a family in which the mother, who has progressive dementia, needs daily assistance. The daughter would like to secure a spot for her in a specialized care facility, while the son advocates for in-home care. However, the siblings’ disagreement alone does not mean they can make decisions on their mother’s behalf.

If the mother is capable of making decisions about her own care, her wishes must be respected. If she is no longer capable of doing so, it may be necessary to address the issue of her legal representation and the legal requirements for admission to a facility. Each situation must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

How to Use a Care Allowance

If a senior has been granted a care allowance, there are several options for how to use it. The best solution is usually care provided by a family member. However, in many cases this is not realistically possible, which is why there are many alternative options for professional senior care. The allowance can also cover care for seniors in residential care facilities that offer specialized assistance.

Day Care for Seniors and Its Types

The first category consists of day care for seniors. Care services can be provided directly in the home or at a facility, such as a nursing home. Thus, the senior continues to live either in their own home or with a loved one, buta caregiver visits them daily, or the senior themselves goes to a center where care is provided. Respitecare services are an important part of care for seniors in residential social care facilities. Day services include:

Personal Assistance

Personal assistance involves a caregiver visiting the senior directly at home or wherever the senior wishes to go. The caregiver’s role is to assist with routine daily activities and personal care. This may include, for example, managing household tasks, assisting with personal hygiene, or helping the senior maintain social contact with those around them. In addition, personal assistance also involves helping with errands, exercising legal rights, and similar matters. Personal assistance is usually provided by the same personal assistant and is not limited in time. Therefore, it can be continuous or scheduled for any time and duration.

Nursing Care Service

Nursing care can be provided directly in the senior’s home or in specialized social care facilities. Like personal assistance, nursing care helps seniors with daily functioning and managing their affairs. Unlike personal assistance, however, it is provided only during specific hours. Caregiving services therefore have set working hours during which care is provided, and typically, multiple caregivers take turns caring for a single senior.

Respite Care

Respite care can be provided in the community, on an outpatient basis, or in a residential setting. Its goal is to allow the caregiver to rest. It is therefore a service that steps in for a close caregiver when they need to be away for a while or simply need a moment to rest. The respite care service itself provides the same level of care as the home care service.

Day Service Centers

In the case of day service centers, the senior (or is transported directly by the center’s special vehicle) goes to a social care facility. They spend the day at this center and return home in the evening. They receive care similar to that provided by home care services. In addition, however, these centers provide all-day meals and offer seniors various activities and programs, such as therapeutic exercises, walks, painting, or reading.

Day Care Centers

Day care centers are divided into daily and weekly types. A day care center involves a senior attending a social care facility during the day. Here, they receive basic care, but emphasis is also placed on other activities that not only entertain seniors but also support their physical and mental health. Weekly day care centers, unlike daily ones, also provide lodging, typically during the workweek from Monday morning to Friday afternoon. The program is the same or very similar to that of daily day care centers.

Care for Seniors in Residential Social Care Facilities and Their Types

Care for seniors in residential care facilities includes nursing homes and senior living facilities. If an older adult does not have a close relative who can care for them, or if their condition has deteriorated to the point where care at home is no longer possible,residential care facilities are an option. A nursing home is a suitable option for seniors who need only occasional assistance. The main types include:

Assisted Living Facility

These are special apartment buildings owned by municipalities, whereseniors rent their own barrier-free apartmentequipped with a private bathroom and kitchen. At the same time,nursing care isavailable to themduring designated hours. The building usually also includes a common room. This type of housing is therefore suitable for seniors who are able to care for themselves at least partially. The conditions in a nursing home are set to meet the needs of seniors and comply with local regulations.

Nursing Home

A nursing home is designed for seniors with more serious health conditions. Care services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Seniors are usually housed in private rooms (though sometimes in shared rooms) and are provided with meals throughout the day. In addition to care itself, most nursing homes also offer various recreational and social activities.

Special-Care Facility

Special-care homes are designed for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s, senile dementia, or other forms of dementia. These homes are adapted to meet their specific needs. As a result, specially trained staff work there, and residents have access to specially designed activities and therapeutic programs.

If you have any complaints about the care provided at a senior care facility, consult with experts. For those who require intensive support, a senior care facility is often the best solution; however, situations may still arise with which you disagree and where legal representation will be helpful.

How to Arrange Care for Elderly Parents, Step by Step

When parents can no longer manage daily activities, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have to move into a nursing home right away. Often, a suitable combination of family support and social services is enough. How can you ensure care for elderly parents that is both safe and in line with their wishes?

1. Find out what your parent is actually unable to do. Do they need help with shopping and cleaning, or are they no longer able to eat, get dressed, or bathe on their own? The extent of the help needed determines which service to choose.
2. Talk to your parent about their preferences. If their health allows it, involve them in the decision-making process. A change in environment can be challenging, so it’s important to respect their wishes.
3. Contact a social worker. The municipal office with extended jurisdiction can advise you on available services and how to choose them.
4. Apply for a care allowance. If your parent needs assistance due to a long-term health condition, they may be eligible for financial support.
5. Check out the providers and costs. Ask about the scope of care, staff availability, payment methods, and contract terms.

Tip: If you only need help for a few hours a day, a home care service or personal assistance may be appropriate. In cases of significant loss of self-sufficiency, it’s advisable to consider a residential care facility. Before making a decision, verify the provider in the Register of Social Service Providers.

Which form of senior care is most suitable?

Do you have concerns about the conditions of care at a nursing home? An unclear contract, disputed fees, or failure to provide the agreed-upon services can cause serious complications for both the senior and their family. Our attorneys will help you review the contract and determine what your rights are.

Summary

Senior care can take many forms—from family assistance and in-home care services to round-the-clock support in a residential facility. When deciding how to arrange care for elderly parents, it is essential to consider their level of independence, health status, and personal wishes. The government may help cover the cost of necessary care through a care allowance, which will reach up to 27,000 CZK per month for adults in 2026. Residential care services for seniors are particularly suitable when it is no longer possible to provide adequate care at home. Before selecting a facility, it is important to verify its registration, the scope of care provided, and the terms of the contract.