Hospice & palliative care at home

Mobile hospice and palliative care at home

If you wish to spend the last phase of your life at home or in your familiar surroundings, you and your relatives can be supported and accompanied in difficult situations by mobile palliative or hospice teams.

An hourly stay in a day hospice can also provide relief in this situation, both for those affected and their relatives.

What does palliative care mean?

Palliative care means accompanying, supporting and caring for dying and terminally ill people in order to improve their quality of life. In addition to medical and nursing measures such as pain therapy and symptom control, palliative care also includes psychosocial support. Relatives are also supported and advised as part of palliative care.

Depending on the case, palliative care can be provided on a palliative care ward, in hospices, in outpatient day hospices or at home by a mobile palliative care team.

Mobile palliative teams

What does a mobile palliative care team do?

Mobile palliative care teams help to alleviate symptoms and pain as much as possible.
It is important that a mobile palliative care team does not replace home nursing care, home help or care provided by relatives or trusted persons.

Mobile palliative care can help you to stay at home for as long as possible. Even if you wish to die at home, the mobile palliative care team can be at your side.
The team works primarily with the people who are already looking after you: for example, your family doctor, your home nurse, family carers or the care team in the retirement and nursing home.

The hospice companions advise and accompany you, giving you time, attention and care. As a mobile hospice team, they come to visit you: at home, in hospital, in retirement and nursing homes as well as in inpatient hospices. They go for walks with you, read to you, talk to you and can help you with everyday activities such as shopping or visiting the doctor. They also provide information about other offers of help, living wills and much more.

What does a visit from a mobile palliative care team cost?

No co-payments are currently required for the services of mobile palliative care teams in eight federal states. Only in Vienna is a small administrative fee payable.

Visits from hospice companions are free of charge.

Who provides mobile hospice and palliative care at home?

Mobile hospice and palliative teams are provided by various organizations. Palliative care teams are made up of doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, care assistants, social workers, social education workers and other professional groups as required. They all have special training.

Under the following link you will find further information and an overview of hospice and palliative care facilities in Austria:

Hospice Austria - Overview of facilities

Day hospice: Hourly stay

If you live at home and would like to be in a group of equally affected people during the day or on an hourly basis, then a day hospice could be an option for you. There you will have the opportunity to talk to people who are also affected by serious, incurable illnesses.

If you are a relative caring for a seriously and terminally ill person at home, it can be a relief for you if the sick relative visits a day hospice.

What services do day hospices offer?

The services offered by day hospices vary: some day hospices offer medical, nursing and therapeutic services. Other day hospices focus on organizing the day together and on activities such as walks, cooking together and socializing. Day hospices are homely, have a kitchen and rooms for joint activities and therapy.

If you are unable to get to a day hospice yourself, it is possible to organize transport services for you. Please enquire directly at the day hospice you wish to visit about the specific service available.
Day hospices are not available in all federal states.

What does a visit to a day hospice cost?

The cost contributions for visiting a day hospice vary depending on the provider and federal state. Some day hospices are free to visit, while in other day hospices the cost contribution is based on your income and care allowance. Alternatively, a fixed cost contribution is payable, regardless of income and care allowance.

Last update: July 2, 2025