Care reform is long overdue
Österreich is facing a growing challenge: the population is getting older and older, and the need for carers is increasing rapidly. In view of these developments, care reform is becoming increasingly important in Austria. By 2050, more than 12% of the population will be over 80 years old. For carers like Aylin, who came to Austria ten years ago to work as a carer, the daily challenges are huge.
She experiences how both caregivers and families struggle in a system that is in desperate need of reform. "People are not only afraid of ageing," she says, "but also of the financial ruin caused by the high cost of care."
The care reform in Österreich 2024: A glimmer of hope
The care reform in Austria 2024 has brought about urgently needed changes. Financial support for families who need 24-hour care has been increased to 1,600 euros per month for two carers. In addition, family caregivers benefit from the increased family allowance and free family interviews, which are offered on a regular basis.
This is an important step towards making care more affordable. In addition, self-employed carers can now cover up to three people in one Community , which offers more flexibility. For Aylin, this means that she can organize her work better and also help people in a community setting.
The government has also introduced new training programs, including multilingual E-Learning-offers and supervision to further improve the quality of care. This is particularly important for people like Aylin, who are confronted with the challenges of an overburdened care system on a daily basis. The nostrified recognition of foreign nurses has also been made easier, which facilitates access to the labour market for qualified Caregivers from abroad accelerates. You can read more about the measures taken by the government read here.
The role of families and caregivers
Für Familien hat die Pflegereform das Ziel, sie zu unload. Thanks to the new advice centers, families can now find out about financial-support, legal advice and care staff. Four annual home visits by qualified healthcare staff also ensure that the quality of care is maintained.
Aylin tells the story of an elderly lady who lives alone and whose family has long struggled to balance her care with their own lives. "They felt guilty because they couldn't do enough for her," Aylin recalls. The new support provided by the expanded range of outpatient care services was a huge relief for the family.
Shaping the future of care in Österreich after the care reform
While the government is gradually implementing reforms, noracares is already going one step further. Our platform connects caregivers, such as qualified healthcare workers and care assistants, directly with families. The system offers a transparent and affordable alternative to previous care models. Nursing staff can now freely organize their work as independent 24-hour caregivers or in the upper service and rely on fair remuneration.
"I've never felt so valued," says Aylin, "through noracares I find families who really appreciate what I do, and I finally feel like I have more control over my work."
Our platform focuses on providing caregivers with a supportive environment where they can work flexibly and set their own terms and conditions. Care workers have the freedom to set their own rates and working hours, which ensures fair remuneration.
noracares strives to close the gap between families and caregivers and to enable individual, accessible and affordable care in Austria. Our focus is on creating a fair system that benefits both caregivers and those in need of care. The 2024 care reform brings many important changes, but there is still a lot to do. Johannes Rauch, the minister responsible for the reforms, emphasizes that even more investment is needed in the long term. However, the current focus is on the legal entitlement to care leave and further training in order to provide better support for care workers. "At noracares, we are more than just a platform – we are a community that believes in a fairer future for care. We firmly believe that care workers like Aylin should be paid fairly and that families must have access to affordable care. Together we can revolutionize the care market." – Nora, founder of noracares Find out more about the Care Reform 2024 here, or become part of noracares-Community and help us shape the future of care. Register now!A look into the future
