Care at the farm: Innovative support for seniors in rural areas

Care at the farm: Innovative support for seniors in rural areas

In Wiener Neustadt, the innovative start-up "Nursing at the Hof" becomes the contact point for people in need of care and their families. The aim of this project is to offer older people with dignified care in agricultural companies and to actively involve them in the daily routine. This initiative combines professional care with a life on the farm, creating a family environment that meets the needs of the older generation.

The concept of "nursing at the court" emerged from the need to create an alternative care option, especially in rural regions. Families are often faced with the challenge of accommodating their relatives in care facilities, which is associated with losses in familiarity and contact with nature. Elisabeth Auer, who implements this idea with her team, explains: "Our goal is to offer a small -scale form of supply through which older people are actively involved in everyday life and they are part of the community."

The creative head behind the project

The initiative is borne by four women who bundle their skills from various specialist areas. Elisabeth Auer, an experienced health and nurse, has launched the concept together with Monika Debelak-Breneis, a management consultant, and her sister Eva-Maria Auer, who works in marketing, and architect Anna Prüller. Her ideas were born during the extensive research on the master's thesis by Auer, where she dealt with the demographic change and innovative care concepts.

The idea of ​​a care business on a courtyard is not new. During her time in the Netherlands, where she was able to get to know the model of nursing farms, she realized how much quality of life this concept could offer. By integrating into everyday tasks on the farm, such as gardening or the care of animals, people who suffer from dementia benefit from improving their general well -being, an increase in appetite and promoting social interactions.

Support from the university of applied sciences

The FH Wiener Neustadt plays an essential role in the implementation of the “Care on the Farm” project. From the beginning of 2024, the start-up will be supported by the University of Applied Sciences' StartUp Center, which will support the founders with advice and programs such as “Green Hexagon” and the “Social Impact Award”. Thomas Wally, head of the center, highlights how the start-up responds to social challenges with its innovative approach and provides solutions. The success of the Social Impact Award illustrates the potential and relevance of the project for the future of care.

The team is currently working hard to implement a pilot project for day care on a farm. At the same time, hypotheses are tested and the network is expanded to get to know the target group better and to concretize the offer. The short -term goals include the successful introduction of day care, while a total of five years are sought to strategically establish two other locations in Austria.

The vision behind it is clear: "We would like to establish a care form that not only enables older people to care, but also a higher quality of life," says Auer. With these ambitions, “Nursing at the Hof” takes a significant step into the future of care and creates an urgently needed alternative for older people in rural regions. A detailed report offers more information on this topic At www.meinbezirk.at.