Fewer residents – housing scandal: State council hesitates to close

Almost a week after the health care scandal surrounding the Senecura house in the city of Salzburg became known, the consequences are now clear. However, they are much more lax than many parties claim. After the Ombudsman’s office reported dramatic conditions at the nursing home in Lehen, the operator must now reduce the number of residents from 63 to 50 seniors. The house has one month to do this.

“If the situation does not improve, plan B will come into effect. This includes the closure of the house,” said State Councilor Heinrich Schellhorn in charge.

What was little talked about at the short press conference: the role of the country in the care drama. The Ombudsman has made allegations not only against the operator, but also against the country. Schellhorn’s department would have been aware of the situation and watching without doing anything. Numerous family members and even nursing staff members complained about the conditions last year.

“The caretaker immediately followed up on the complaints,” Schellhorn explains. Shortcomings were reported during the checks, but then “nothing would have been below the minimum standards”.

Referrals were toothless
At the time, the housing counselor made suggestions for improvement. With little success: the following April, conditions were so disastrous that the Ombudsman’s office intervened with a devastating verdict. Only then did the house supervisor step in. “We have to make sure that nothing like this happens again,” says Schellhorn, announcing measures. At the same time, he sees the responsibility with the operator. “When a home gets into trouble in this way, the home management and nursing staff are not left uninvolved,” he says.