Who pays for accommodation in an EMS?
Who pays for accommodation in an EMS?
"My father is 94 years old and has just moved into a retirement home. Obviously, the amount of his AVS pension is insufficient to pay for his accommodation. So I appealed to the social services. I was told that I would have to contribute to the cost of his accommodation, but this request also concerns my children. I'd like to know if my children are obliged to contribute.
Marie-Madelaine, Geneva
In principle, the medico-social establishment (EMS) is financed by health insurance, which pays a fixed amount for care services, by the State, which pays a cantonal subsidy, and by the resident, who also pays a certain amount depending on his or her resources.
The elderly person's resources are made up of their pensions (AVS, 2nd pillar LPP, etc), the proceeds of their assets (interest on bank accounts, income from securities) and a share of their assets if they exceed CHF 25,000 for a single person.
However, if you have insufficient resources to pay for a stay in an EMS, you can apply for supplementary benefits from the Geneva Cantonal Office for the Elderly (OCPA), which will award federal supplementary benefits (PCF) and cantonal supplementary benefits (PCC) under certain conditions. These benefits are not reimbursable; as they are not assistance benefits, the family is not involved. Any Swiss or EU/EFTA national residing in Geneva has an immediate right to PCFs; however, to be entitled to PCCs, you must have lived in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA for 5 of the 7 years preceding your application for the benefit.
However, if a person does not meet the conditions for supplementary benefits, they can still claim assistance benefits, which in principle are no longer reimbursable by their next of kin since 1 January 2004. As a result, neither you nor your children will normally be obliged to contribute towards your father's accommodation in a retirement home.
