More funding for long-term care

Nursing care and support as well as the promotion of 24-hour care are the main focuses of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. The central elements of a comprehensive care provision policy in Austria are long-term care benefit, social services, the Care Provision Agreement and also the Agreement on Social Support Professions.

With the amendment to the Federal Long-Term Care Act unanimously adopted on 24 September 2008 by the lower house of the Austrian Parliament, the Minister for Social Affairs Erwin Buchinger brought about the greatest improvements for people in need of care and their family members since the introduction of long-term care benefit 15 years ago. A total of 400,000 long-term care benefit recipients and their family members will benefit from the increase of long-term care benefit, higher levels of support for 24-hour care and the discontinuation of the ceiling on assets.

The cornerstones of the care package: Increase of long-term care benefit from 1 January 2009: plus 4 percent for Stages 1 and 2, plus 5 percent for Stages 3, 4 and 5, plus 6 percent for Stages 6 and 7. In addition, persons with severe mental or physical disabilities, particularly those suffering from dementia, and children and young people with severe disabilities will receive higher-stage benefits. For 24-hour care, benefits will be increased from 1 November 2008 and the ceiling of assets (restricting eligibility) will be lifted.

Moreover, the group of persons eligible for short-term care measures from the support fund for people with disabilities will be extended to recipients of long-term care benefit at Stage 3 (previously Stage 4), and for people in need of care who have been diagnosed as having dementia, and for minors in need of care from Stage 1.