Living Environment Improvement Measures: Everything You Need to Know for a Barrier-Free Daily Life

When daily life becomes a challenge due to physical limitations, the design of one's own four walls plays a central role. Small barriers can quickly become major obstacles—be it in the bathroom, when leaving the apartment, or on the stairs. Living environment improvement measures help maintain independence, facilitate care, and create a safe home.

In this article, you will learn exactly what is meant by living environment improvement measures, which prerequisites must be met for funding, and how to apply for the grant from the long-term care insurance fund (Pflegekasse).

What are Living Environment Improvement Measures?

Living environment improvement measures are structural or technical changes in the apartment or house that make life easier for people in need of care or that only make home care possible. The goal is to promote independence, increase safety, and relieve the burden on caring relatives.

Examples:

• Ground-level shower

• Grab rails in the bathroom

• Door widening

• Stairlift

• Ramps for wheelchair users

• Motion detectors for nocturnal orientation

• Handrails

When are Measures Considered Living Environment Improvements?

Measures are considered living environment improvements if they are directly related to the care situation. This is the case if they enable or significantly facilitate care at home, improve the independence of the person in need of care, and reduce the risk of falls or injuries. It is also important that an approved care degree (Pflegegrad) exists—without this, no funding is possible.

Who Can Apply for Living Environment Improvement Measures?

Eligible to apply are:

• People in need of care with an approved care degree,

• Authorized representatives or legal guardians,

• Relatives acting on behalf of the person in need of care.

Nursing facilities (Pflegeeinrichtungen) are not eligible to apply.

Which Criteria Must Be Met for Recognition as a Living Environment Improvement Measure?

To have a measure recognized by the long-term care insurance fund, certain prerequisites must be met:

• A care degree is present

• The measure is necessary, appropriate, and economical

• It is not a luxury solution

• A professional care justification or an expert opinion is available

What is the Maximum Grant for Living Environment Improvement Measures in 2025?

The grant for living environment improvement measures in 2025 is up to €4,180 per person in need of care and per measure. If several eligible persons live in one household, the total grant can increase to up to €16,720.

How Does the Care Degree Affect the Funding?

An approved care degree is the basic prerequisite for any living environment improvement measure. Funding is possible starting from Care Degree 1. The amount of the grant always remains the same: a maximum of €4,180 per person—regardless of whether Care Degree 1 or 5 is present. If the care degree changes over time, new or additional measures may become necessary, for which a further application can be submitted.

All prerequisites at a glance:

• Care degree available – at least Care Degree 1

• Measure is care-relevant – enabling, facilitating care, or increasing independence

• Application submitted before the start of work

• Cost estimate & justification must be submitted

• Landlord's consent if the changes are structural in rented apartments

Which Costs Are Covered for Living Environment Improvement Measures?

The long-term care insurance fund covers:

• Structural adjustments: e.g., bathroom conversion, door widening, stairlift

• Permanently installed aids: grab rails, ramps, lighting systems, handrails

• Material and labor costs from specialized companies

Exemplary Living Environment Improvement Measures by Care Degree

Multiple People in Need of Care in One Household: How the Grant is Divided

If several people in need of care live in one household—for example, spouses or relatives with different care degrees—the question often arises as to how the funding for living environment improvement measures is regulated in such cases.

The good news: Every person with an approved care degree (1 to 5) has an independent claim to up to €4,180 in subsidy. It is irrelevant how many people live in a household or what care degree they have—the amount is fixed per person in need of care. In total, up to €16,720 per household is possible if, for example, four eligible people live together.

Example:

If one person with Care Degree 2 and another with Care Degree 4 live in a household, a joint application can be submitted—for example, for a barrier-free bathroom conversion that benefits both. However, the measure must be justified for both people. The long-term care insurance fund checks in each case whether the conversion is medically necessary and care-relevant.

Even if it is only one measure (e.g., a stairlift), the grant can be combined if the necessity is understandable for every person in need of care.

Living Environment Improvement Measures on a DIY Basis

Living environment improvement measures can also be carried out on a DIY basis. In this case, however, the long-term care insurance fund only covers the costs for the necessary material. The working time is not paid. Such DIY work is primarily useful for smaller measures, such as installing grab rails. It is important that you prove the material costs with purchase receipts and ideally also submit photos of the work carried out.

Calculation Example: Installation of a Handrail as a Living Environment Improvement Measure

Initial Situation

Mr. M., 78 years old, lives with Care Degree 2 in his single-family house. The stairs to the upper floor are increasingly causing him problems as he loses his balance when going up and down. The care consultant therefore recommends installing a stable handrail to prevent falls and secure his independence in daily life.

The chosen handrail is made of beech, 2.5 m long, and costs €66.90, supplemented by three stainless steel handrail holders at €12 each. Total material costs: €102.90.

1. Scenario: DIY (Eigenleistung) (Self-assembly by relatives)

Mr. M.'s son installs the beech handrail (2.5 m) with three stainless steel holders himself; the material costs are €102.90. He submits the original material invoice along with a brief confirmation of the DIY work to the long-term care insurance fund.

Impact on the application: In this case, the long-term care insurance fund can usually only reimburse the material costs, as there is no specialized company invoice for the labor.

A total of €102.90 is reimbursed by the long-term care insurance fund.

2. Scenario: Assembly by a Specialized Company

Mr. M. commissions a specialized company to professionally install the handrail including holders. The invoice includes material costs of €102.90 plus labor costs, e.g., €150–250.

Impact on the application: Since a complete specialized company invoice is available, material and labor costs can be covered as a living environment improvement measure up to the grant limit of €4,180.

A total of €102.90 material costs + the company's labor costs are reimbursed.