As reported on Tuesday, the federal government has now initiated noticeable relief for caregivers and caring family members. The aid package of 120 million euros was presented on Wednesday after the Council of Ministers.
“There has never been a legislature in which so much progress has been made in nursing as in the past year,” Wöginger said with satisfaction. All points of the first part of the care reform have already been implemented or are being implemented, now that “the second major package in the field of care” is following almost a year later, ÖVP club president August Wöginger did not save with superlatives at the joint press foyer with Social Affairs Minister Affairs Johannes Rauch (Greens).
The most important points in a row:
- 24-hour informal carers can take care of several people at the same time, even if they are not family members.
- The subsidy for 24-hour care by two self-employed nurses will be increased again by 160 euros at the beginning of this year after an increase of 90 euros and will amount to 800 euros in the future. If the supervisors are hired, instead of 1280 euros there will be 1600 euros.
- Nursing qualifications obtained abroad are recognized more easily and quickly. The cabinet also wants “the efforts to actively recruit nursing staff from abroad – also from non-European countries -“, according to Minister Rauch.
- In the future, the nursing staff should be able to make the first classifications for the nursing allowance. This shortens the waiting time for the healthcare allowance.
- In the case of children going into rehab, there will be a legal right to be accompanied by the parents for four weeks.
The package comprises a total of 18 measures for which the government will make 120 million euros available by the end of the legislature. Two weeks ago, the government introduced an extension of the family allowance to the parliament’s social affairs committee. This means that family members who do not live in the same household as the person in need of care are also entitled. In addition to the extension of the allowance for family members, a decision will also be taken this week on nursing education in the National Council.
Now it’s about “long-term security of financing”
However, the measures presented were not sufficient in terms of care, Rauch assured. “The next step is to obtain sustainable security for the financing and the measures through the financial settlement.” He is confident that this is possible.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
