Short-term care, substitute care and respite care

Many people in need of care require daily care and rely on family and friends. As a family caregiver, you naturally want to be there for your loved one at all times. But what happens if you become ill, need a break, or want to take a vacation?

Short-term care

A person in need of care is looked after in care facilities or through private caregivers for a limited period, for example, if the family needs a break or if care at home is temporarily not possible.

Typically, the person in need of care can stay in a care facility for a minimum of 4 days and up to 28 days at a time, with a maximum of 6 weeks per year
In some federal states, short-term care is even available for up to 90 days. You can check the availability of short-term care places directly with the care facility
The costs are generally based on the usual fees.

Substitute care

Substitute care refers to care provided for a limited time

Substitute care means that a carer, whether employed by a care home, an organisation, working independently, or even a private individual, takes over the care and support of your close relative or loved one. This carer does not need to be a professional; family members, neighbours, or friends can also provide substitute care.

Respite care

Substitute care or respite care also helps to ease the pressure on family caregivers so that they can take a cure or go on vacation.

Transitional care

Another form of short-term care is transitional care, where people are temporarily accommodated in a care facility after a stay in hospital. You can find more information at the following Link:

Transitional care

Further questions and answers

If you are the main caregiver for your close relative, you can apply for support from the regional office of the Sozialministeriumservice in your federal province. Under certain conditions, you will receive a financial allowance for the costs incurred for professional or private substitute care. The prerequisite for this is usually that the person in need of care receives care allowance of level 3 or above. You can be granted this support if
you are ill,
want to go on vacation or
state other important reasons.
However, if the person in need of care has dementia or is a minor, substitute care can be funded from care level 1.
Allowances for family carers for respite care - Sozialministeriumservice
A subsidy can also be applied for in the respective federal province. However, it is only granted under certain conditions. However, it is only granted under certain conditions. For example, funding is often provided only from a specific level of care, and the care must take place in a care home. Sometimes there are also requirements regarding how long you must have cared for the person in need and how much time the care involves.
For short-term or respite care in a facility, you must contact the desired nursing home and reserve a place. You can submit the application directly at the chosen care home. In some federal provinces, applying online is also possible. You will need an ID Austria for this.
When you submit the application by post please click here:

Application by post - Website Sozialministeriumservice

Send the application to the regional office of the Sozialministeriumservice in your federal province. You can find the addresses by following the link below Link and click on your federal province on the left-hand side:

Addresses of the regional offices - Website Sozialministeriumservice

When you submit the application online via ID Austria, please click on the following button Link:

Online application - Website form service

Last update: May 7, 2026

Was this helpful?

Use the buttons below to leave feedback. You may provide additional details in a second step.

Short-term care, substitute care and respite care

Further questions and answers

Information

Contact