Study on Mobile Nursing and Care Services

A new study by WIFO highlights the current and future economic significance of mobile home care services in Austria against the background of the imminent demographic change and possible political measures to change the care mix in formal care. Long-term care experts Ulrike Famira-Mühlberger and Matthias Firgo examine the status quo of mobile home care services in the national and international context. A European comparison shows that public expenditure on long-term (home and institutional) care in Austria is in the lower middle range.

Analogous to several previous WIFO studies, the new WIFO study presents the projected cost path of all long-term care services, especially mobile services, up to 2050. Building on this, four scenarios (shifting the care mix in favour of institutional care, 24-hour home care and mobile home care services, relative increase in the potential for informal care) quantify the effects of possible measures that influence the significance of the respective forms of long-term care to varying degrees. This shows that an increased expansion of mobile services can somewhat dampen the projected cost path. Since mobile services can only be used meaningfully if relatives are willing to support family members in need of care, strengthening care for relatives must also be part of this policy strategy. Nevertheless, the demographic development means that all care services must be further expanded. However, a shift towards more mobile home care can have a positive impact on the cost path. The study uses a series of evidence-based conclusions and arguments to highlight the importance of mobile services as an integral part of an effective long-term care system.