In Austria, social services provide a variety of services. Sick people are cared for in hospitals and care homes, but also in their own home. You can inform yourself about social services and home health care in the first section.
In the second section you can find information about the caring options and financial benefits for people with disabilities.
Senior citizens often have different needs than younger people. You can find information on where and how these special needs are met, in the third section.
Integration through social commitment
It is often difficult to make new friends and to feel as a member of society after moving to a new country. Nevertheless, you should try it! Inform yourself about history, culture and characteristic features of your new homeland. Most important however: Get to know other people and establish contacts with them!
You should try to get to know Austrian people as soon as possible, even if you would like to get to know more fellow countrymen at the beginning of your stay.
You can get to know people in your domestic and occupational surroundings, but also by engaging yourself in communal organisations and associations. In this way you do a meaningful task for the community and people will appreciate your readiness for action and duty.
These organisations are, for example, the volunteer fire brigade or various emergency medical services. You can find some of them in the following collection of links.
The leaflet “Sinnvoll engagieren/Ehrenamtliches Engagement in österreichischen Vereinen” (Becoming involved meaningfully/Voluntary commitment in Austrian associations) of the Austrian Integration Fund gives a good overview to this topic.
Help and support
Charitable organisations, associations and institutions of various religious communities, that can be found in Austria, also offer services for people: There, you can find a variety of assistances for everyday life (like advisory activity, language courses or child care) and they are often free of charge.
Organisations and associations do not only offer support, but they are also a forum for conversations and companionship.
Links
- Austrian Red Cross
- Helpstars at the Red Cross
- Workers’ Samaritan Union /
- Austria Rescue Corporation
- Fire Brigade Union
- ZEBRA – Intercultural Centre for Counselling and Therapy
- Caritas
- Volkshilfe
- Scouts
- Sports’ Union
- Association of Sport and Physical Culture Austria
- General Athletic Union Austria
- Union of alpine associations in Austria