“Massive Expansion” – Loud cry for help for caring relatives

“The care and support of family members is mainly women’s work. About 73 percent of those mastering this difficult task are women,” emphasized Anderl. “They need more hands-on help through professional care and nursing for effective relief.”

“Balance work and care”
According to the president, 300,000 of the caring family members would also work in addition to care work. These are “mainly dependent on professional support to combine work and care”.

Anderl complained that professional support had been stagnating in all areas for years. “While the number of people living at home and requiring care is increasing, the approximately 16 million hours of mobile services per year remain the same.”

AK: Mobile services only cover about 3% of demand
According to AK estimates, mobile services only cover about three percent of the care and nursing needs of people living at home. “Day centers and daily support of a few hours are just a drop in the ocean. Instead, the caring family members have to fill the huge gap between supply and demand.”

“Massive Expansion” Required
The AK therefore advocates a “massive expansion” of mobile services and daytime activities. “Solid means it’s about multiplying abilities and not about cosmetic enhancements.” In addition to the urgent expansion of all care and nursing services, a better organization of processes, especially for care and support at home, is necessary.

Home nursing should be a “uniform, consistent service”. Many of those affected would also fail to understand why the support of a qualified health and nurse practitioner (DGKP) is paid for by the health insurance company only up to 28 days after hospitalization and must therefore be paid.

SPÖ Retirement Association: “We cannot afford to sit still!”
Pensioners’ association SPÖ also called for further steps on Monday: “We cannot afford to stand still in the care and support of the elderly! Where are the further measures – which have already been announced before the summer -,” said PV chairman Kostelka in a broadcast.

As an example, he gave the ‘family bonus’ for caring relatives. This should come this year and also be provided from care level 3. In addition, more local information is needed and especially social and financial security.

ÖVP Senior Citizens’ Association President Ingrid Korosec also made demands on the government on Monday. “Caring family members are the backbone of our health care system,” she emphasized, pointing out that there are 900,000 people, 60 percent of whom are women. “You take care of 80 percent of the people in need of care at home, so more than 300,000 people.”

While Korosec acknowledged the improvements made as part of the first part of the health care reform, it determined that further action was needed. “These laws can only be the beginning. In particular, 24-hour care must be expanded and promoted much more so that there is a sufficient and affordable offer,” she explains in a broadcast. The subsidy must be increased “substantially” from the current 550 euros per month (for two independent carers).

In addition, the chairman of the Senior Citizens Association expects the decision to increase the family bonus of up to 1,500 euros per year for retirees in the autumn: “I have already decided that the bonus will be extended, regardless of when . The most important thing is that the bonus comes on January 1, 2023,” says Korosec. In addition, she called for “new talks between the social partners quickly” about the health care reform: “The first laws adopted are undoubtedly important, but since the presentation in May there has been a standstill again,” she criticizes.