The current Court of Audit report once again confirms the need for reform in nursing care
Vienna (OTS) – Aging in dignity, without loneliness, with enough affordable assistance and, if possible, in your own four walls – that was certainly on the secret wish list of many older people. In terms of the framework conditions, some steps were taken in the healthcare reform. But As the Court of Auditors found in a report shortly before Christmas, there are still major reforms in the care sector that are still pending.
The likelihood of being confronted with one or more care and support situations over the course of your life is very high. “Over 80 percent of all care services in Austria are provided by caring relatives. In total, there are around a million people who provide care and/or support at home and who therefore face various, intensive challenges
“, says the director of Volkshilfe Austria Erich Fenninger.
Caring relatives are under great strain
Caring relatives are often so psychologically stressed by their work that their own health is negatively affected. For this reason, it is necessary to seek professional help at an early stage – regardless of whether someone has consciously decided to care for a family member or whether an acute illness has made it necessary to suddenly take over care. In 2021, around 151,537 (Statistics Austria, 2023) people received mobile services for the care and/or care of a person in need of care. In comparison, 85,330 people live in a residential or nursing home (ibid.). Mobile services primarily include care and support with household management or hospice and palliative care for people in need of care at home. And These mobile services are also provided on Sundays and public holidays, and the social contacts also combat loneliness. But more is needed.
There is a lack of “time together”.
„At Volkshilfe, around 5,500 people work in the area of care and support, primarily in the mobile sector. There is currently a shortage of around 400 employees across all professional groups, and the trend is rising
“, says Fenninger. The nursing staff requirement by 2030 is around 90,900 people (82,700 DGKP, PFA, PA and 8,200 home aides). Due to the general shortage of workers, competition with other industries has become even greater. It is therefore important to increase the attractiveness of the professions. Because more nursing staff are urgently needed in order to reduce the time pressure that employees are under.
These measures can be implemented quickly:
- Salary during training
A uniform payment for training, similar to that of the police (around 2,300 euros gross), is a sure way to get more people interested in the nursing and care professions. The offer would also make the decision easier for those switching.
- Access to hard work pension
The nursing professions must have access to the heavy work pension. And the training periods for nursing and care professions should also be recognized as insurance periods; they represent a large part of the practical training.
There is also enormous pressure on the country’s largest nursing service, the family carers. The task force report lists affordable relief and psychosocial support offers. The aim here is to ensure the financing of the many projects and to tackle the nationwide expansion of day-care facilities
- Expanding innovative forms of living helps combat loneliness
To ensure that people living alone do not feel alone, more innovative forms of living are needed, such as shared apartments, assisted living and assisted living.
Finally, for Fenninger it is important that “Really all politicians at all levels understand that urgent action is needed in the care and support sector. The Court of Auditors’ report is intended to serve as a guideline. There must also be decisive improvements in the year of the National Council election, because the need for care is increasing and the acute shortage of staff has long been a reality
“.
Questions & Contact:
Volkshilfe Austria
Romana Bartl
Presse
+43 676 87841770
Romana.bartl@volkshilfe.at
volkshilfe.at