retirement home
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retirement home
A facility where older people live who need care and support. Alternative German terms are 'Seniorenheim' or 'Pflegeheim'.
Meine Großmutter lebt seit zwei Jahren in einem Altersheim.
My grandmother has been living in a retirement home for two years.
The word 'Altersheim' (retirement home) is made up of three parts: 'Alter' (age), the linking -s, and 'Heim' (home). So it literally means a 'home for old age' or for old people.
Viele Menschen möchten so lange wie möglich zu Hause wohnen, bevor sie in ein Altersheim ziehen.
Many people want to live at home for as long as possible before they move into a retirement home.
The preposition 'in' is used with a different case depending on the situation. Movement toward the place is expressed with the accusative ('ins Altersheim' — into the retirement home), while staying at the place is described with the dative ('im Altersheim' — in the retirement home).
Er bringt seine Tante jeden Sonntag ins Altersheim.
He takes his aunt to the retirement home every Sunday.
Common verbs used with 'Altersheim' (retirement home) are 'in einem Altersheim leben' (to live in a retirement home), 'in ein Altersheim ziehen' (to move into a retirement home), or 'jemanden im Altersheim besuchen' (to visit someone in a retirement home).
Nach dem Tod ihres Mannes ist sie in ein Altersheim gezogen.
After her husband's death, she moved into a retirement home.
nursing home
Pflegeheim and Altersheim can refer to the same facility for older people in need of care. Pflegeheim places professional care at the forefront and is not limited to older people. Altersheim names the facility based on the age of its residents, who need care and support.
Für die pflegebedürftige Frau Weber sucht die Familie einen Platz in einem Altersheim.
The family is looking for a place in a retirement home for Ms. Weber, who needs care.
Wegen der notwendigen Pflege rund um die Uhr sucht die Familie für Frau Weber ein Pflegeheim.
Because she needs round-the-clock care, the family is looking for a nursing home for Ms. Weber.
