Community Nurses in Voitsberg: On the way to becoming a system-relevant facility

Community Nurses in Voitsberg: On the way to becoming a system-relevant facility

The Community Nurses in Voitsberg are committed to being recognized as a systemically important institution in the field of health care. Their current limited status as a project will remain in place until the end of 2025, while at the same time increasing their efforts to become consolidated in the public health service. Project manager Bettina Stangl and the new state coordinator Eva Unger are moving to a new office in the meeting center on Voitsberg's main square at the beginning of January.

Amid a strained funding model in which 40 percent of costs are borne by municipalities and 60 percent by the state, the Styrian state leader of the Green Party, Sandra Krautwaschl, found worrying news about possible cuts. But Unger and Stangl are confident about the future: “We no longer want to be a project, but rather offer a valuable contribution to health care in Styria.” Your main task will continue to be prevention work, which is in great demand not only in Voitsberg.

New office on the main square

A crucial change that comes with the new year is the move to a larger office, which will serve as a base for the community nurses in the future. A special nursing room with a nursing bed will be set up at the main square, which can be used for both training and practical exercises. Here, those interested can learn the correct handles and find out about safety precautions such as anti-slip mats.

In addition to the regular senior cafés in the “Zur alten Post” inn, where 30 to 45 people take part every month, the community nurses have established themselves as an indispensable source of information for relatives. These offers are becoming increasingly popular and attract citizens from across the district.

Preventive home visits and health education

In addition to offers such as the active program, which includes various exercise exercises during a walk, the community nurses also work closely with local schools and doctors' practices. They offer preventative home visits to determine what adjustments are needed if someone is not feeling well. This includes not only health education, but also strengthening cooperation with specialized facilities such as the geriatric day clinic at LKH Voitsberg.

Unger and Stangl expect a promising perspective for the future from an impact report from the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences, which is scheduled to be published in spring 2025. This report aims to evaluate the benefits of community nurses from 2021 to 2024 and help develop both acceptance and a clear professional profile for community nurses. “We are confident that this report will further strengthen our important role in healthcare,” said Unger.

The further development of community nurses is an exciting example of how valuable preventative health work is for society. Here in Voitsberg there is a clear trend that health services are not only needed, but also actively in demand. For anyone interested in the work of community nurses, there is also other interesting news from the region that offers further insights and developments.