The International Day of People with Disabilities on December 3rd is a day of action proclaimed by the United Nations since 1981 to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and to promote the dignity, rights and well-being of these people. The Houses for Living have been offering a successful solution to the housing needs of people with disabilities since 2012. There are currently 32 places available for people with disabilities in the Mariahilf and Neubau buildings. The offer is divided into two units per house with a maximum of 16 people and offers social psychiatric care and support for people with disabilities.
For those affected, there are teams consisting of specialist social workers, home helpers, qualified psychiatric health and nursing staff, psychologists, psychiatric specialists and occupational therapists. This setting enables people with disabilities to participate and integrate into social life in the household and to maintain their own potential. Co-responsible activities (washing laundry, cooking, etc.) in everyday life and managing everyday life and relationship management are successfully practiced here. Personal biography is taken into account when structuring daily and weekly routines. This allows resources and skills to be maintained and sometimes even improved. Your own nursing skills are supported here as needed. Wolfgang Krb, the director of the Mariahilf and Neubau houses, explains the offer as follows: “Ours is a semi-integrative concept that enables residents to have contacts in the house through the TagFamilie living arrangement (a form of care with a day structure). Individual and group care is offered. We are guided by the principle of everyday normality. We support the residents individually in managing their household and maintaining a structured daily routine. We also offer a variety of activities. Our top priority is promoting independence and enabling participation in social life.”
People with disabilities enrich life in homes
From the very beginning, the ideal prerequisite for the pensioners’ homes was the accessibility due to the various restrictions of the residents. Here, for example, B. Polling stations have been set up and events and concerts are regularly offered. Doctors come to the house. All houses for living offer a variety of group activities, such as exercise groups, cognitive training, creative activities, etc. to maintain resources and vitality. A kiosk called MarktPlatz offers the amenities of a café and a shop, and hawkers regularly come to the house with textiles and everyday goods. The houses to live in reflect life in the respective neighborhood and enable people with mobility limitations to participate in everything they need for a varied life. The residents also have the opportunity to have a say and help shape things as part of a residents’ advisory board. Christian Hennefeind, managing director of Haus zum Leben, says: “The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities demands accessibility, personal mobility, health, education, employment, rehabilitation, participation in political life, equal rights and non-discrimination for people with disabilities. Thanks to our professional, dedicated teams, our homes not only meet these criteria, but also offer much more in terms of quality of life. The fact that we managed to integrate people with disabilities is also an enrichment for our residents and employees and for our company in general.”
In this way, residents with disabilities contribute their diverse talents and improve the quality of life of the seniors in the respective houses. The spectrum ranges from an accordion player and a pianist to a photographer who documents the events to everyone’s delight. The best thing: Even friendships between people with disabilities and those without have no barriers here, because: “The houses to live in make Vienna more livable for everyone,” says Christian Hennefeind.
The houses to live in – a fund of the City of Vienna
The houses for living and the pensioners’ clubs for the city of Vienna are one of the largest Austrian employers in the social sector. Around 8,500 people live in the 30 pensioners’ homes. The top priority is to guarantee residents the best possible quality of life and self-determination. This means that 80 percent of the residents can spend the rest of their lives in their own apartment. In addition to tailor-made care and support offers, the houses for living offer a broad health infrastructure, fresh and balanced nutrition and a diverse entertainment program.
The 150 pensioners’ clubs for the city of Vienna offer a social network for Viennese over 60 years of age. This is done through a wide range of activities – from exercise to culture, from cozy get-togethers to large celebrations.
The houses for living are supported by the Vienna Social Fund with funds from the City of Vienna.