Respite services for parents
Caring for your own child can be very stressful. In the event that you are unwell yourself or want to take a vacation, there are various ways to get support. Many respite services are aimed at parents who want or need to take time off. Some offers can be used by the whole family.
Are you unwell, need some time off or do you have a private or professional appointment? In these cases, you can make use of substitute care. I This allows a private or professional caregiver to look after your child for a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 28 days. From care level 1 onwards, you will receive a financial allowance from the federal government.
You can find more information under the following link:
Info service of the Ministry of Social Affairs - Respite services
The following section describes some available respite offers. For further information on the various offerings, use the search feature on the website of the Infoservice of the Ministry of Social Affairs, which is linked below.
A stay at the Kinderburg Rappottenstein in Lower Austria gives you time and space to regain energy and strength. The offer is aimed at families with chronically ill or seriously ill children or relatives. It also offers a place of retreat for those who wish to take a break from everyday life or who need support in coping with grief after the loss of a close family member. Further information is available on the website of the Infoservice of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Enter the search term "Kinderburg Rappottenstein" in the search field on the website of the Infoservice.
In Vienna and Lower Austria, Malteser Care supports children and young people suffering from serious chronic illnesses or disabilities. 24-hour care is organised and supported by the respective social services department in the federal province. For more information, contact the social services department in your federal province. You can find more information about the organisation's support services on the information service platform of the Ministry of Social Affairs by searching for "Malteser Care".
Vienna offers various leisure facilities for children and young people, both with and without disabilities. You can find two different offers, for example, on the website of the Infoservice. For more information on the individual offers, enter the term "Aktionsraum" or "Spielothek" in the search field.
The national association for Children's Cancer Aid organises special “island camps” for children and young people recovering from illness. Parents can take part to, offering them an opportunity to rest and regain strength after a difficult time. These programmes take place on the Sonneninsel, a facility on Lake Wallersee in Salzburg. For more information on the offers and available dates, click on the website of the Infoservice of the Ministry of Social Affairs and then search for the term "Kinderkrebshilfe".
Under the following link you can search for the relevant offer using the search function:
Further respite services
Last update: September 11, 2025
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