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Care level calculator: which Pflegegrad is realistic?
The Medical Service does not assess diagnoses — it assesses independence, across six areas weighted very differently. This calculator goes through those same six modules, applies the statutory point tables and shows which care level comes out.
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Since 2017 the care level has no longer been decided by minutes of care but by the degree of independence. The assessment instrument under § 15 SGB XI measures it in six modules: mobility (10%), cognitive and communication abilities and behaviour (15% between them), self-care (40%), coping with illness and treatment (20%), and organising daily life and social contacts (15%).
The answers in each module produce raw points, which official tables convert into weighted points. Out of a maximum of 100 total points the care level follows: from 12.5 points care level 1, from 27 level 2, from 47.5 level 3, from 70 level 4 and from 90 level 5. That is exactly the calculation this tool reproduces.
One thing worth knowing: in modules 2 and 3 only the higher of the two values counts, not the sum. And module 4, self-care, weighs as much on its own as all the other modules together — which is why the care level is often decided at washing, dressing, eating and using the toilet.
How the care level is determined
| Total points | Result |
|---|---|
| under 12.5 | no care level |
| 12.5 to under 27 | care level 1 |
| 27 to under 47.5 | care level 2 |
| 47.5 to under 70 | care level 3 |
| 70 to under 90 | care level 4 |
| 90 to 100 | care level 5 |
- Six modules with fixed weightings: self-care 40%, coping with illness 20%, mobility 10%, daily life 15%, cognition/behaviour 15% between them
- Of modules 2 and 3, only the higher value counts — not both added together
- What is assessed is independence, not the diagnosis: aids such as a walking frame or grab rails do not change the result
- This estimate does not replace the official assessment, but it shows roughly where your case sits and how far the next level is away
How the calculator works
- Work through six modules: A few everyday questions per module, each with four answer levels — from “independent” to “dependent”.
- Watch the points live: Your answers become weighted points according to the official tables, module by module.
- Understand the result: Total score, likely care level and the gap to the next one — plus the next steps for the application.
Frequently asked questions about care level assessment
How accurate is this estimate?
The weightings, point tables and care level thresholds are taken unchanged from § 15 SGB XI and its Annex 2. The only simplification is the number of questions: the Medical Service checks more individual items per module and assesses in person. The result is therefore good guidance, but not a decision.
Why does my diagnosis not count?
Since 2017 the assessment has looked exclusively at independence in everyday life. Two people with the same diagnosis can end up with different care levels — what matters is what somebody can still do alone. That is why this calculator asks about activities, not illnesses.
What about dementia?
Cognitive impairment feeds in through module 2 (orientation, memory, understanding) and module 3 (behaviour such as night-time restlessness, wandering, resisting care). Since only the higher of the two counts, being severely affected in just one of those areas already produces the full score for that group.
Does it count if aids are used?
No. What is assessed is whether the activity works without another person helping. Somebody who walks through the flat independently with a walking frame counts as independent on that point; somebody who needs a person to hold on to does not.
What if the result is just below a threshold?
Then the assessment visit deserves particular care: keep a care diary for one or two weeks, have a carer present at the appointment, and describe the bad days honestly rather than the good ones. Many families paint too positive a picture and lose half a point at exactly the wrong place.
How do I apply?
Informally, to your care insurance fund, by phone or in writing — the date it arrives is what counts, because benefits run from the month of application. The fund then has 25 working days to decide. Our care navigator calculates that deadline and produces a follow-up letter if they are late.
Sources & legal position
The module weightings and the point thresholds of the care levels are set out in § 15 SGB XI, the conversion of raw points into weighted points in Annex 2 to SGB XI. How long the care insurance fund has to decide is explained by the Federal Ministry of Health. Legal position as of August 2026.
From the calculator to real relief
Sonnenstrahlen is a licensed care service with three offices in Berlin. We will work through your care situation concretely and without obligation — at the same rates as in this calculator — and can take over at short notice. Advice in German, English and Russian.
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