The cost of care home accommodation in Cyprus is becoming an increasingly heavy burden for families, with basic monthly fees starting at around €1,400 to €1,500 and rising to as much as €5,000 in more demanding cases.
For elderly residents who are bedridden or require closer supervision, the cost can exceed €2,000 a month, especially when a single room is needed. Additional services, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy or other specialised care, can push the final amount significantly higher.
State subsidy falls short
Louis Gregoriades, president of the Cyprus Association of Care Homes, said facilities are being asked to cover a wide range of needs while facing steadily rising operating costs.
The maximum state subsidy for care home accommodation stands at €1,300 a month, a level set in 2024 and unchanged since. Gregoriades said this amounts to about €45 a day for accommodation, food and round-the-clock care.
“The maximum state support should be at least €1,500,” he said, noting that the current subsidy no longer reflects actual costs.
Demos Antoniou, president of the Cyprus Third Age Observatory, said elderly care goes well beyond providing “a bed and a plate of food”. Needs include consumables such as nappies and gauze, specialised staff and continuous medical monitoring.
The subsidy works as a top-up to the elderly person’s income. For example, if a pension is €700, the state covers the difference up to the maximum limit. In practice, however, families are often required to contribute extra for unexpected costs or medication.
Antoniou also raised the issue of taxation, saying it is unacceptable for elderly people and their families to be charged 9% VAT on care services.
Waiting lists and limited options
At the same time, pressure on available facilities is increasing. Care homes have recorded higher occupancy in recent months, leading to waiting lists.
Gregoriades said the sector has seen no major new investment for around 15 years, as high operating costs and tax burdens make it unattractive to investors.
State-run options have also been sharply reduced. Of five public facilities that operated in the past, only one remains today, limiting choices for people on low incomes.
Antoniou warned that the problem will worsen as the population ages, adding that the state must ensure access not only to residential care but also to long-term care services for elderly people who remain in the community.
No increase planned
The adequacy of the subsidy was recently raised in parliament through a question submitted by AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros to Labour and Social Insurance Minister Marinos Mousiouttas.
In his response, the minister said the maximum subsidy remains €1,300 and is granted under income and social criteria, mainly to low-income pensioners and recipients of the Guaranteed Minimum Income.
He said the state covers the difference between income and accommodation costs up to the set limit. However, his response did not indicate any plan to increase the amount, despite the sharp rise in care home costs in recent years.