Many of those affected cannot afford care at home with the current amount of money and have to go to a nursing home, which is more expensive and undesirable, said Thomas Blaindorfer from the placement agency “Pflegebörse”. Green nursing spokeswoman Bedrana Ribo can see some merit in the request, but also pointed to the steps that have been taken in the nursing sector.
Blaindorfer would like to see the level of funding doubled, as this would bring about a significant improvement. In the joint APA interview, Ribo also agreed with the wish for an increase, but did not agree with the doubling. Blaindorfer, founder and managing director of the “Pflegebörse”, estimates that even the cheaper offers can only be afforded by around ten percent of those affected. If a person in need of care moves into a residential facility, the pension and care allowance are retained, but the rest is financed by the public sector – and the costs per care place in the home are significantly higher than the costs for 24-hour care. “I would have liked to have understood better why this is the only alternative,” said Blaindorfer, who also referred to existing additional funding in individual states such as Burgenland and Vorarlberg.
Not affordable in practice
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If you assume an average pension of 1,800 euros and care level 3, in which you receive around 550 euros in care allowance plus the 800 euros subsidy for employing two independent care workers, you have a disposable monthly income of 3,150 euros. In the best case scenario, 24-hour care, for example if arranged through his agency, costs around 3,000 euros, in other cases the costs could be higher, around 4,000 euros. In both cases, this is usually not affordable, says Blaindorfer, and there are also other costs for housing, supplies, medication, etc. The costs for a place in a nursing home would be around 5,000 to 6,000 euros in total, says Blaindorfer.
Back in June, a new “Personal Care” platform (made up of patient, family, staff and provider representatives) had already called for an increase in funding: the basic grant of 800 euros should be increased by earmarked funds to an average of 1,450 euros, it was said at the time. There should be a “fairness bonus” if the person concerned agrees to pay minimum fees to the carers.
Ribo stressed that the federal government had first increased the subsidy from 500 to 640 and now to 800 euros. “I also understand when you say that it is still not enough – of course much, much more is still needed,” because even a “super-great minister” cannot make up for everything that has not been done in 30 years, Ribo emphasized the reforms of Health Minister Johannes Rauch in the care sector – such as the increase in the care fund to 1.1 billion euros.
She agreed that more needs to be done, said Ribo – but overall a broader view was necessary, “because we don’t just have the six percent with 24-hour care.” For example, she referred to the family carers for whom the care bonus was introduced. She also said with regard to the training initiative: “Our goal was to really provide support with training scholarships,” she said. In less than a year, 9,000 people had fallen into the care scholarship system and started training. This meant that “a large package had been achieved.”
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The High Cost of Long-Term Care: Exploring Options and Financial Assistance
As people age, they may require long-term care, which can be a significant financial burden. For many, the cost of care at home is unaffordable, leading them to move into nursing homes, which are even more expensive. This article will explore the financial challenges of long-term care, the options available, and the various ways to pay for it.
The Cost of Care: A Heavy Burden
According to Thomas Blaindorfer, founder and managing director of the “Pflegebörse” placement agency, many older adults cannot afford care at home with their current income and have to resort to nursing homes, which are more expensive and less desirable [[1]]. The cost of 24-hour care can range from 3,000 to 4,000 euros per month, excluding other expenses like housing, supplies, and medication, making it unaffordable for most individuals.
Paying for Long-Term Care: Options and Financial Assistance
While many older adults pay for part or all of their long-term care with their own money, also known as personal or “out-of-pocket” funds [[2]], there are other options available:
- Medicare and Medicaid: These government programs provide financial assistance for long-term care, including nursing home care. Medicaid, in particular, will pay for nursing home care for individuals who meet the program’s financial eligibility requirements [[3]].
- Financial Assistance Programs: Some states offer additional funding for long-term care, such as Burgenland and Vorarlberg in Austria.
- Care Allowance and Subsidies: Older adults may receive care allowance and subsidies to employ independent care workers, which can help offset the cost of care.
Increasing Funding for Long-Term Care
Bedrana Ribo, Green nursing spokeswoman, acknowledges the need for more funding for long-term care, although she disagrees with doubling the funding level as suggested by Blaindorfer. Ribo points to the steps taken by the federal government, including increasing the subsidy from 500 to 640 and now to 800 euros, as well as the increase in the care fund to 1.1 billion euros [[1]].
Conclusion
Long-term care is a significant financial burden for many older adults. While paying out of pocket is an option for some, others may need to rely on financial assistance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Increasing funding for long-term care is essential to ensure that older adults can afford the care they need. By exploring the options available and advocating for more financial support, we can work towards making long-term care more accessible and affordable for all.
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The Affordability Crisis in Austria’s Care System
Austria’s care system is facing a significant affordability crisis, with many individuals unable to afford care at home and being forced to opt for more expensive and undesirable nursing homes. This issue was recently highlighted by Thomas Blaindorfer, founder and managing director of the placement agency “Pflegebörse”, who estimated that even the cheaper care options can only be afforded by around 10% of those affected [[1]].
The current care allowance system provides a subsidy of 800 euros, which is insufficient to cover the costs of 24-hour care, let alone other expenses such as housing, supplies, and medication. As a result, many individuals are forced to rely on the public sector to finance their care, which is significantly more expensive than 24-hour care. Blaindorfer has called for the level of funding to be doubled, which would bring about a significant improvement to the care system.
Green nursing spokeswoman Bedrana Ribo has acknowledged the need for increased funding, but has also pointed to the steps that have been taken in the nursing sector, including the increase in the care fund to 1.1 billion euros [[2]]. Ribo has emphasized the importance of taking a broader view of the care system, recognizing that it is not just limited to 24-hour care, but also includes family carers and other forms of support.
The Austrian government has taken some steps to address the affordability crisis, including increasing the subsidy from 500 to 640 and now to 800 euros. However, more needs to be done to ensure that individuals can afford the care they need. As Ribo noted, “I also understand when you say that it is still not enough – of course much, much more is still needed” [[1]].
In addition to increasing funding, there is a need for innovative solutions to address the affordability crisis. For example, the “Personal Care” platform, which consists of patient, family, staff, and provider representatives, has called for an increase in funding to an average of 1,450 euros, as well as the introduction of a “fairness bonus” for individuals who agree to pay minimum fees to carers [[1]].
Austria’s care system is not alone in facing affordability challenges. Many countries around the world are grappling with the same issues, as populations age and the demand for care services increases. As such, it is essential to share best practices and learn from other countries’ experiences in addressing the affordability crisis.
the affordability crisis in Austria’s care system is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention. While some steps have been taken to address the issue, more needs to be done to ensure that individuals can afford the care they need. This will require a combination of increased funding, innovative solutions, and a broader view of the care system.
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* Affordability crisis in care systems around the world
