Transcript: Video old-aged care in Austria

With its audits, the Austrian Court of Audit aims at making an effective contribution to the added value created for citizens. 

This also means that topical and relevant themes need to be addressed. 

Today’s report on old-age care in Austria is to contribute to the care reform, which had been announced by the Federal Government and still needs to be addressed.  

In the upcoming years, old-age care services are expected to increase considerably. This raises the question of how the provision and financing of care can be ensured. 

We are convinced that Austria has to be better prepared for this challenge. 

This includes a coordinated approach between the Federation and the provinces. In its report, the Austrian Court of Audit highlighted the key points in this regard. 

As to nursing homes, a serious discussion must be held on the varying density of supply, the admission procedures to nursing homes and the substantially varying rates. 

The Austrian Court of Audit still notes the lack of a uniform quality of care and publicly accessible measurements of quality. 

The services provided by mobile old-age care also differ massively with regard to their use, costs and the financial contributions made by the patients. As regards the financing of care, we consider it as important that the interface between old-age care and health care is rendered clear and that the funding of investments is addressed. 

In its audit report, the Austrian Court of Audit therefore recommends to make accurate technical specifications with regard to costs, quality and services based on improved databases. 

Subsequently, we recommend the development of a sustainable funding system that takes into account care allowances and the financial contributions made by the patients themselves. The services offered and the funding of care require, according to the view of the Austrian Court of Audit, a targeted controlling of costs and quality of old-age care and a proactive planning of requirements. 

This includes in particular the available human resources. With its audit, the Austrian Court of Audit hopes to have provided an important basis for the current discussion on old-age care.