Care brokerage: The problem with seriousness
Transparent care brokerage: why it's crucial. The decision to hire a 24-hour caregiver for yourself or a loved one is one of the most important in life.
However, this is where the challenge begins: Who can you trust? How do you recognize fair offers? And which care agency really works transparently?
Many families in Austria face the same problems: hidden costs, non-transparent contracts, dubious placement agencies and poor quality of Caregivers. The fear of making the wrong choice is great - after all, the safety and well-being of a loved one is at stake.
However, this is exactly where transparency comes in. In this article, you will find out what you need to look out for to find a reputable and fair care agency to recognize which costs are realistic, which state subsidies you are entitled to and how you can avoid legal pitfalls.
noracares is committed to transparent care placement. Our mission is to connect families and caregivers directly with each other - without hidden fees, without opaque contracts.
The problem of non-transparent care placement
The risks for caregivers: lack of security and financial disadvantages
Adriana V., a Romanian care worker who has been working in Austria for over ten years, was blindsided when she found out that she owed more than 2.000 euros. She was assured that the contributions would be paid directly by her placement agency - but in fact only part of the social security contributions were forwarded.
This is not an isolated case. Many caregivers face similar problems:
- Delayed or incomplete wage payments
- Missing or incorrectly paid social security contributions
- Unfair termination conditions with high contractual penalties
- Hidden fees deducted from their pay
Particularly problematic: Many care workers are not even aware that they are registered as self-employed. Due to a lack of language skills and education, they often do not fully understand their contracts - and suddenly find themselves in a system that imposes hardly any rights on them, but many obligations.
The risks for families: hidden costs and legal uncertainties
Families looking for a caregiver also encounter numerous pitfalls. Many placement agencies lure people in with "All-round carefree packages" that actually contain hidden costs or do not provide the promised services.
Typical problems families face:
- Unclear about who is actually hiring the caregiver
- Wage and social security contributions that are not clearly regulated
- Penalty fees for early contract termination
- Lack of support when applying for care allowance and grants
According to a study by the Verein für Konsumenteninformation (VKI), many agency contracts are deliberately vague, so that families only realize afterwards that the actual costs are significantly higher than initially stated.
A particularly serious case: Family R. from Vienna commissioned a supposedly inexpensive care agency for 1,600 euros per month. Only later did it emerge that the caregivers were only officially registered with social security every other month. As a result, the family was not entitled, to apply for government funding.
How to recognize a reputable care agency?
Features of a transparent care agency
A serious care agency is characterized by the following features:
- Direct wage payment to the nurse - Families should pay caregivers directly, without an intermediary.
- Clear contract terms - The contract must define transparent, what services are provided and what costs are incurred.
- Traceable social security contributions - Caregiver contributions must be properly deducted.
- No hidden costs - All fees, including travel expenses and social security contributions, must be communicated openly.
- Advice on government grants - A reputable agency provides information about financial support such as care allowance.
Warning signs of dubious care agencies
⚠️ Collection Power of Attorney (Power of Attorney for Wages) - When an agency manages wage payments, there is a risk of unlawful deductions.
⚠️High penalties for termination - Unfair contract termination clauses should be avoided.
⚠️ Unclear pricing - Anyone who does not provide transparent costs usually has something to hide.
⚠️ No copies of the contract - Families and caregivers should always receive written proof.
State subsidies for 24-hour care
Many families need financial support for 24-hour care. In Austria, the care allowance, which, however, has not been adapted to inflation since its introduction.
Maximum subsidy: 550 euros per month - clearly too little to cover the actual care costs.
The Arbeiterkammer (AK) calls for an increase in funding and measures against exploitative contract clauses. The proposals include:
- A ban on gag contracts and excessive contractual penalties
- Strict legal requirements for cost transparency
- A better integration of mobile home care
- More Counseling services for families and caregivers
It's worth keeping up with the latest Funding opportunities at the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Choosing a 24-hour caregiver is a decision that significantly impacts the life of a loved one. Unfortunately, there are too many opaque agencies with hidden costs, unclear contracts and dubious quality.
At noracares let's go for a fair, transparent and ethical care mediation one:
- Direct networking of families and caregivers - without middlemen and hidden fees.
- Full cost transparency - You know exactly what services you will receive.
- Fair pay for care workers - because quality starts with fair pay.
- Advice on care allowance & legal security - so that families have no uncertainties.
Transparent care placement not only protects families from unexpected costs, but also ensures caregivers a fair working environment.
Would you like a reliable Find a caregiver? Register now on noracares and benefit from a safe, fair and transparent care placement service.
- Care allowance - State financial support for people in need of care, which is graduated according to the level of care.
- Power of attorney for collection - An often problematic practice where agencies manage payroll payments and caregivers are not paid directly.
- 24-hour-care - A form of care in which a caregiver lives in the home of a person in need of care around the clock.
- Self-employed caregiver - A care worker who works as a tradesperson and pays their own social security contributions.
- Nursing - The placement of caregivers through agencies or platforms such as noracares.
- Gag contracts - Contracts with unfair conditions, such as excessive penalty fees or excessive commitment to an agency.
- Care levels - The seven levels of care allowance that determine individual care needs.
- Ministry of Social Affairs - The central point of contact for care allowance applications and other care services in Austria.
- Transparent Care Placement - A fair and comprehensible placement of caregivers, where all costs and conditions are clearly disclosed.
