Many problems – There were also complaints in other Senecura houses

Can a for-profit company operate senior housing? That’s the central question being discussed around the care drama in Salzburg-Lehen (the “Krone” reported). “Senecura is the only provider in the province of Salzburg that is focused on profit and not operated for the benefit of the public,” says the responsible county councilor Heinrich Schellhorn. He would prefer if the Salzburg communities started running their retirement homes themselves.

Similar allegations in Paris
Because: There were complaints not only in the retirement home in Lehen – in a home in Paris, conditions were also precarious at the beginning of the year. The allegations sound familiar: too little food, too little hygiene and too few staff. The nursing home in question is operated by the company Orpea – in Austria, the company took over the Senecura home group in 2015. At the same time, the company is listed on the stock exchange and the only for-profit property manager in Salzburg.

There were also problems in Radstadt
But even in Salzburg, the retirement home in Lehen is not the only facility causing problems. At the end of July, it was announced that the municipality of Radstadt will start operating the retirement home itself again from the new year. “There were problems with the operator, relatives also complained and there was also a problem with the food,” said Radstadt mayor Christian Pewny (FPÖ).

In the future, Radstadt, Untertauern and Forstau will manage the house with 42 residents themselves. A destiny that also flourishes for the city of Salzburg, should the house in Lehen be closed after all…