What Really Applies in Greece

When we talk about home care in Greece, many families are unsure where personal choice, public policy, and legal requirements meet. The key thing to understand is that there is a legal and regulatory framework governing how care can be provided ethically, safely and in compliance with Greek law — but it’s not always simple or widely understood.

1. Professional Home Care Is a Regulated Activity

In Greece, providing organized social and healthcare services — including services related to the protection and care of vulnerable adults and chronically ill persons — is legally recognized and requires compliance with licensing and permit rules. According to existing legislation, entities that offer organized social services (including care services) typically cannot operate without a proper license from the competent administrative authority. E-Nomothesia

In practical terms:

• A company providing home nursing or care services should be registered legally and hold any required permits as determined by local and national regulations.
• Individuals providing services in a private capacity should also ensure they operate within the legal boundaries of self-employment or employment structures under Greek labour law and social insurance systems such as EFKA.

This protects both the person receiving care and the caregivers — legally, financially, and professionally.

2. “Hospital at Home” and State-Recognized Home Care

There is also a specific regulatory framework in Greece for what is called “Νοσοκομειακή Κατ’ Οίκον Νοσηλεία και Φροντίδα Υγείας (Hospital at Home)”. In May 2023, a Ministerial Decision (ΦΕΚ Β’ 3396/19-05-2023) was published, laying out the criteria, organization and operation of this type of care. EY

This law doesn’t apply to every type of home care situation but is specific to scenarios where hospital-level medical and nursing care is delivered in the patient’s home, under clinical criteria similar to what would be provided in an inpatient setting. It sets definitions and organizational requirements for this highly clinical model.

3. Who Can Provide Care

Legislation recognizes that home care and home nursing can be provided by:

• Public entities (e.g. community health units or NHS units)
• Private health providers
• Licensed professionals (nurses, clinicians) working either independently or within a structured service model
  This means that unlicensed, informal or contract-only arrangements are not compliant if the services involve regulated health activities. Ανοικτή Διακυβέρνηση

From a practical standpoint:

• A private nurse employed legally or contracted through a licensed provider will have compliance both with healthcare regulations and with Greek labour and social security law.
• Informal care by unpaid family members is not governed in the same way, but if the tasks performed require clinical skills or ongoing nursing care, the law expects qualified personnel to be involved.

4. Public Support Programs and Social Care

Besides strictly clinical home nursing, there are public social care programs in Greece that legally support home care for elderly or disabled individuals. An example is the “Βοήθεια στο Σπίτι” programme, run by local authorities, which provides assistance for people who cannot fully self-manage due to age, disability or chronic condition. Δήμος Αθηναίων

These programmes operate within the framework of social services and are intended to supplement family care, not replace the need for professional health workers where clinical care is necessary.

5. Rights and Protections

Even outside specific home care regulations, Greek law includes broad patients’ rights and protections that apply whenever healthcare services are provided — including at home. These include the right to information, consent, dignity, privacy and safety in care. NCP

This means that:

• Patients must consent to care
• Personal and medical data must be protected
• Care provision must uphold safety and ethical standards

6. Employment Law for Caregivers

Labour law in Greece has provisions relating to caregivers, including protections and employment conditions for those who provide care to relatives or professionally. For example, Labour Law 4808/2021 includes specific rules on work-life balance and protections for informal caregivers. EPIONI

This affects families and professionals alike, reinforcing that caregiving is a valued activity deserving legal recognition and support, not just a private arrangement.

What This Means for You

Home care and nursing services in Greece operate within a legal and regulatory context.

Key takeaways:

• Offering care services as a structured, licensed provider or as a legally employed professional nurse is required if clinical care, monitoring and medical tasks are involved. E-Nomothesia
• There is now a formal legal framework for “Hospital at Home” care for complex clinical needs. EY
• Public social support programmes exist to help families with non-clinical needs. Δήμος Αθηναίων
• Patients have rights that apply regardless of where care is given. NCP
• Labour protections for caregivers are part of employment law. EPIONI

In other words, home care in Greece is not a grey zone. It is a service area where professional standards, patient rights, and legal responsibilities intersect — and navigating that correctly is essential for both safety and compliance.