First Inpatient Caritas Hospice Opened in Vienna-Liesing

The Caritas opened its first inpatient hospice in Vienna on Wednesday. The center, housed in a care facility in Liesing, complements the organization's mobile offerings. It provides space for 16 people. As Caritas director Klaus Schwertner emphasized, there is a high demand in this area. However, legal changes would contribute to the expansion progressing. He still has requests for politics - for example, regarding legal entitlement.

Caritas Inpatient Hospice is the Largest in Vienna

An inpatient Caritas hospice had been missing until now, he emphasized. It is certainly necessary: "The demand is great." The offering in the inpatient area does not yet cover this. The assistance in the mobile segment is already significantly more extensive. In Vienna, about five hospice teams and four palliative teams are on the move, the Caritas director recounted.

The station, now officially opened and operated together with the organization "Casa Leben," has been in operation for several months. So far, 25 people have been accompanied there until the end of their lives. According to Schwertner, the age of those affected ranged from 42 to 97 years. On average, patients stay there for about five weeks. With 16 places, it is, according to Caritas, the largest inpatient hospice in Vienna.

There was praise for the Hospice and Palliative Fund Act passed in 2022. This has "ignited a turbo," Schwertner rejoiced. The financing of such centers by the federal government, states, and sponsoring organizations has been regulated. Since then, the expansion has gained momentum.

Legal Entitlement to Palliative Care Demanded

However, he still has further concerns, he emphasized. Schwertner advocated for a legal entitlement to palliative care. It should not depend on the postal code whether one receives appropriate care at the end of life.

According to the managing director of the Vienna Social Fund, Susanne Winkler, a total of three day hospices and five inpatient hospices are available in Vienna. The former are already fully expanded. However, there are still places missing in the inpatient offerings, as she emphasized.

Social and Health Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) referred to corresponding plans in the current government agreement. "The expansion must continue," she affirmed. How many places are missing is currently being evaluated. Peter Hacker (SPÖ), the head of the department responsible for the area in Vienna, also expressed satisfaction with the package negotiated between the federal government and the states. The improvements brought by the law are clearly noticeable, he stated.

(APA/Red)

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