What was recourse to care?
“Recourse to care” means recourse to assets for care. In Austria, until 2017, people in need of long-term care in a nursing home had to draw on their own income or assets. In the case of subsidies, their own income, such as pensions or care allowances, as well as assets such as savings, savings accounts, securities, or real estate were used. The social services departments of the federal states could also draw on the assets of relatives, heirs, and recipients of gifts. In practice, this also meant that the social services departments obtained liens on real estate. People in need of care in nursing homes were left with only a few thousand euros in assets.
When was recourse to care abolished?
Since January 1, 2018, recourse to care costs has been abolished for all persons receiving public funding for care in a nursing home. Access to the assets of those affected, their relatives, their heirs, or recipients of gifts is not permitted.
This is the relevant law: § 330a ASVG
What has replaced the recourse to care? Who pays for nursing care?
The income of those affected will continue to be used to cover nursing care costs. The remaining costs are now borne by the federal and state governments. In nursing homes, residents receive 20 percent of their monthly pension, including special payments, as well as 10 percent of the Level 3 nursing care allowance as spending money.