Expansion from 2024 – Healthcare: “Open employment model for friends”

From January 1, 2024, neighbors, friends or acquaintances can also take care of themselves and be employed by the government. “The expansion opens the model to people who do not have a family relationship, but a relationship of trust with the person who needs care,” explains Governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ). This is a further step towards being able to care for Burgenlanders in need of care at home for as long as possible.

At the same time, relatives and acquaintances who provide care would be covered by social security, Doskozil says. Just like caring family members, the confidential counselors must complete basic nursing training within one year and have had their main residence in Burgenland for two years. There is a new exception for people in need of care, to whom this period previously also applied. “You are now allowed to take a break of up to six months, for example if you had to move to another state for a nursing place,” says State Councilor for Social Affairs Leonhard Schneemann (SPÖ).

From 2024, support visits, during which family members and acquaintances receive care tips, will also be free, as Pflegeservice Burgenland GmbH will take over these. According to Doskozil, there have been a total of 467 jobs since the model was introduced. Currently 284 caring family members use it.

There is strong criticism from the opposition
ÖVP nursing spokesperson Thomas Steiner sees the employment model as a failure: “Of the planned 600 jobs, there are currently only 284.” Regina Petrik, leader of the Green Party, emphasized that the bill only talks about health care providers and not informal caregivers: “The model is therefore outdated.”