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, mobile palliative or hospice teams can provide support and guidance for you and your relatives throughout this time.

Staying in day hospice for a few hours at a time can also provide respite in this situation, both for those affected and their relatives.

What does palliative care mean?

Palliative care means accompanying, supporting and caring for people who are terminally ill or nearing the end of their life in order to improve their quality of life. In addition to medical and nursing interventions such as pain relief and managing symptoms, palliative care also includes psychosocial support. Relatives also receive support and advice as part of palliative care.

Depending on individual circumstances, 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 to note that a mobile palliative care team does not replace home nursing care, home help or care provided by relatives or close persons.

Mobile palliative care can help you to stay in your own home for as long as possible. Even if your wish is to spend your final days 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 your retirement and nursing home.

Hospice companions provide support, advice, and keep you company. As a mobile hospice team, they can visit you at home, in hospital, in retirement and nursing homes or in inpatient hospices. They may 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 can also provide information about other support offers, living wills and much more.

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

The services of mobile palliative care teams do not require a patient contribution across eight of the federal provinces. The exception is Vienna, where a small administrative fee is 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 organisations. 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 undergone special training.

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

Hospiz Österreich - Overview of facilities

Day hospice: Hourly stays

If you live at home and would like spend time among people facing similar challenges during the day or for a few hours during the day, then a day hospice could be an option for you. These facilities provide a space 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, a day hospice can provide additional support, giving you a chance to rest while your loved one attends the 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 activities such as walks, cooking together and socialising. Day hospices are designed to feel homely, offering a kitchen and rooms for joint activities and therapy.

If you are unable to get to a day hospice yourself, it is possible to organise 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 provinces.

What does a visit to a day hospice cost?

The cost contributions for visiting a day hospice vary depending on the provider and federal province. Some day hospices are free to visit, while for 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