Information for family members

Receive the right care professionally, quickly, and competently

Professional placement companies in Austria are the perfect contact point for family members of people requiring care when it comes to the placement of independent care services. Placement companies ensure that qualified and suitable care is available as needed on site as quickly as possible. The quality of Austrian placement companies is guaranteed by the regulations published in the Federal Law Gazette for the Republic of Austria on "professional ethics and rules of practice for the organisation of caregiving." These ethical requirements establish comprehensive due diligence, contractual, and documentation requirements.
The core service of placement companies is to place independent caregivers. Placement companies ensure the continuity, safety, and reliability of care services, a smooth transition with the organisation of two alternate caregivers and for substitute care if the caregivers are impaired or unavailable. They are also available as a contact point for those requiring care and their family members throughout the whole caregiving relationship.

The key steps to caregiving

After making contact with the placement company, the desired service profile is immediately determined together with the person requiring care, their family member, or representative.
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Based on this information, the prescribed needs assessment is carried out. After this, the placement company selects one or more suitable people from its pool of independent caregivers. The proposed independent caregivers of course have the expected qualifications and all permissions necessary for performing the work.
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Based on the material submitted and qualifications or in an individual interview, the decision for a particular caregiver is then made.
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The caregiver can then be picked up at a specified time at the nearest station or driven by a transport service directly to his or her destination.
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In a placement contract, the agendas between the person requiring care and their family members, agents or representative and the placement company are regulated in detail and transparently, for example regarding the agreed scope of work and payment.

Note!

The caregiving relationship between the person requiring care and the independent caregiver is separately regulated in a caregiving contract. Independent caregivers directly bill their customers for their services. They are also responsible for paying taxes and social contributions themselves.
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In addition to the placement service, most placement companies are also available as a contact point for the entire period of caregiving.

Note:

Local placement companies usually offer a number of other services, mainly designed to ensure quality and increase comfort, in addition to counselling and assistance with grant applications.

Placement contract

The relationship between the person requiring care or their family members, agents, or representatives and the placement company is regulated in a placement contract.

A placement contract includes the information of both parties, the beginning and the duration of the placement contract, a description of all services, the amount and due date of payment for work carried out as well as the methods of payment, and also provisions for the termination of the caregiving contract.

The individual services of the placement company are reported correctly and transparently in the placement contract. The described benefits may include not only placing an independent caregiver but also ongoing activities such as arranging replacement workers, regular visits, administrative support for establishing work contracts or grant applications, and support with any questions or problems during the care.

Placement company services

In addition to simply placing caregivers, many companies offer a range of other comfort and quality-based services, such as:

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Telephone support
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Organising replacement care if the caregiver is impaired or unavailable
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Support in administrative procedures and in concluding a caregiving contract
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Help in applying for care allowance and funding
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Visits and inspections for quality assurance
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Moderation between independent caregiving providers (independent caregivers) and the person requiring care or their family members

Professional ethics and obligations of the placement company

A written caregiving contract is concluded between the independent caregiver and the person requiring care or a family member or authorised representative. Both parties are entitled to a written copy of the contract.

A caregiving contract absolutely must include information on the parties, the contract start and duration, an exact description of the agreed services, the establishment of guidelines for emergencies or for a deteriorating condition, arrangements for a replacement in the case of absence, the amount and due dates of payment for work carried out, and finally provisions for the termination of the contract.

Note!

Independent caregivers directly bill their customers for their services. They are also responsible for paying taxes and social contributions themselves.