Municipal value chains and resources in the context of care and support prevention in Burgenland

Informal exchange of resources already takes place in a variety of ways. Based on existing private initiatives, a structured expansion of resource exchange in the neighbourhood network could be implemented in the future. In some regions, the exchange of resources has already been promoted through projects - such as the Neighbourhood Help PLUS project. There is particular potential for innovation in the exchange between the care home as an institution and the elderly population in the neighbourhood. Despite the small-scale structure of the care home landscape, some residents come from a place other than the one in which the care home is located and often lose their social network of neighbours when they enter the home. They would like to have more contact with the local elderly population who still live at home. In some homes, this is co-organised by the management (walks, etc.). In addition, opening up the activities in the home to the extramural elderly population in the community would support this interaction. However, according to the experts, this would require larger rooms, as the tables in the dining area often have to be moved aside for all activities.

A total of 19 biographical or social space-orientated interviews were conducted, each of which was combined with visual analysis methods (network maps, subjective maps). In various municipalities, car photography was used to visualise challenges in the everyday lives of older people - particularly with regard to mobility. In addition, group discussions from the 6 workshops in the districts of Burgenland were included in the analysis. In addition, 7 interviews with experts from the elderly and care sector provided a further perspective on the topic.

With regard to the reasons for the declining use of day care centres for senior citizens in Burgenland despite the strong expansion, expert interviews and group interviews with users were used. These primarily attribute this to organisational, transport-logistical and monetary factors. Due to the lack of public transport infrastructure, older people are dependent on their relatives. In addition, excursions are organised together with residents and day guests in order to increase the exchange between these two groups. More information on efforts to increase the utilisation of day care can be found in the Ideas Exchange, which brings together innovative practices from across Burgenland.