Allegations against SeneCura: State Councilor Katharina Wiesflecker in ignorance of allegations. Food quality is primarily a matter for the operator.
The serious allegations published by VOL.AT against the care service provider SeneCura caused some violent reactions across the country. First of all, Mayor Dieter Egger expressed himself in view of the criticism of the conditions in the kitchen of the social facility, which also cooks for schools, kindergartens and meals on wheels. Regional Director Christian Length responded to the allegations in a detailed statement and confirmed that the proportion of freshly cooked goods would be increased by the end of the year. Following the publication, numerous victims, relatives and other former employees turned to VOL.AT and confirmed or even reinforced the allegations.
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In the VOL.AT interview, the regional councilor Katharina Wiesflecker, who is responsible for nursing, speaks about the situation and shows that she is ignorant of the allegations.
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VOL.AT: In our most recent research, serious allegations were made against the Vorarlberg SeneCura care facilities. Have such allegations been brought to you?
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LR Katharina Wiesflecker: No.
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VOL.AT: How do you, as a regional councilor, react to the allegations? To what extent does the country plan to respond to the allegations?
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LR Katharina Wiesflecker: I am responsible for the nursing supervision, which is carried out at regular intervals in all homes.
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If an allegation is made, a short-term on-site inspection can be carried out by the responsible official. Depending on the allegation, the check is carried out by a nursing, sanitary, structural engineering or fire protection official or expert. If necessary, the official food control of the Umweltinstitut Vorarlberg can be switched on, whereby this authority already carries out an annual inspection of the homes with regard to, among other things. Goods condition and handling of goods, hygiene, takes place.
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VOL.AT: What is the handling of a private care provider? Are your hands tied in this particular case?
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LR Katharina Wiesflecker: When it comes to inspections within the framework of supervision, it makes no difference whether it is a private institution or not.
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VOL.AT: The Vorarlberg Social Fund is endowed with over 290 million euros in the current budget year (of which 174.2 million euros from the state and 116.1 million euros from the municipalities). How much money flows into the care facilities, how much specifically into the Vorarlberg facilities of the SeneCura Group?
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A net financing requirement of 94 million euros is budgeted for all care facilities in 2021. Of this, 18 million euros are earmarked for the seven SeneCura facilities in 2021.
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VOL.AT: What control mechanisms apply in the event of such serious allegations?
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LR Katharina Wiesflecker: Insofar as a risk to the life or health of the residents or a significant impairment of the other interests of the residents protected by the Nursing Home Act is ascertained, an on-site inspection that has not been announced can be carried out under certain conditions, admission can be stopped immediately or a home can be closed.
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VOL.AT: To what extent is the focus on regional, healthy menus, perhaps even with organic quality, in institutions run by the state and municipalities? How can true costs and high-quality catering be reconciled here?
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LR Katharina Wiesflecker: It is primarily up to the operator to ensure adequate food for the residents. They are also legally obliged to do so. Of course, we support the regional supply of the homes on the part of the state.
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VOL.AT: Staff shortages, reputation of the nursing profession, financing, demographic development, Corona: What are the greatest challenges in the nursing sector? How does the new strategy paper of the Vorarlberg Social Fund take the above-mentioned priorities into account?
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LR Katharina Wiesflecker: The greatest challenge in the care and nursing area is the question of personnel. For 2021, we have made available an additional 4 million euros from the social fund to improve the staffing ratio, in a first step for night shifts in smaller homes. Improvements in staffing, an increase in the number of apprenticeships and attractive working conditions are measures that we need to train more staff on the one hand and to keep the staff on the other.
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VOL.AT: How do you personally face the accusation that private, listed care service providers like the SeneCura Group would accept compromises in quality in order to maximize profit?
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LR Katharina Wiesflecker: In my area of responsibility, I can only judge this from a nursing point of view. From this perspective, there are no complaints whatsoever.
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