Nursing crisis: Social organizations warn of savings and poverty

Nursing crisis: Social organizations warn of savings and poverty

Wien, Österreich - Vienna, March 17, 2025 - The large alarm bell rings: Austrian social organizations such as Caritas, Diakonie and the Red Cross warn of an acute nursing crisis. In the middle of the government's austerity measures, they are calling for increasing “clever” investments in the care and social areas. Maria Katharina Moser, director of the Diakonie and Chair of the Federal Working Group Free Welfare (BAG), emphasizes that the savings in nursing will lead to higher healthcare costs in the long term. "Every euro that is invested in long -term care has a added value of 1.7 euros," she explains. At the moment, a large part of state funds flows into care, which results in enormous returns on taxes and social contributions, as Statista reports.

stricter situation for those in need of care

The situation is dramatic: patients often spend too much time in the hospital because home care is not sufficiently guaranteed. Anna Parr, Secretary General of Caritas Austria, calls for better discharge management and the expansion of transition and short-term care. These measures could not only reduce the costs, but also promote the independence of the elderly. Digitization is another key to relieving the resources in the nursing sector, as Elisabeth Anselm from the relief organization explains. A digitization fund for nursing services is required to make the care organization more efficient.

The need for preventive measures is also addressed: Gerry Foitikt, Federal Retting Commander of the Red Cross, suggests programs that increase the independence of those in need of care. This is, for example, memory training or targeted training for relatives who are supposed to help avoid follow -up costs. Caring relatives in particular suffer from the burden because they often have to give up their gainful employment to provide their loved ones. To relieve here, more support offers are necessary, Moser demands.

Long -term care is a term that includes all measures that are granted over a long time. In Germany, long -term care is ensured by various long -term care insurance benefits. It is important to know that long -term care insurance covers part of the costs, but the own shares can still be considerable. On average, people in need of care must expect around 2,871 euros a month, as the Federal Office of Statistics shows. Also when maintaining dementia patients, it can be seen: Appropriate support in a nursing home can be crucial to secure the quality of life and avoid overloading.

The BAG's claim is clear: investments in care must be treated primarily. "We warn against saving in the wrong places where people are already very worried," concludes the BAG in its appeal to the government.

For more information, read at Kathpress and nursing.de .