KL Project: App "Alles Clara" to support caring relatives presented

© ERSTE Stiftung

In Austria, up to 80% of care is provided by relatives and often without the involvement of professional services. According to the latest estimates, around 950,000 people in Austria are currently caring for family members or people close to them, such as friends or neighbours, in their everyday lives. This is where ERSTE Foundation, together with Austria's care organisations (Caritas Pflege der Erzdiözese Wien, Diakonie Österreich, Hilfswerk Österreich, Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz, Volkshilfe Österreich) and the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs saw the need for a digital social innovation such as "Alles Clara - die App, die Pflegen leichter macht". This was presented on 22 September 2022 on board of the Danube ship MS Kaiserin Elisabeth.

© ERSTE Stiftung

Project manager Nicole Traxler (Two Next) informed about the status quo: "Those seeking advice receive digital respite and care counselling through Alles Clara. They can talk to our 19 specially trained counsellors about the big and small challenges they face. The qualified nurses, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists come via Austria's support organisations. During the pilot phase, we are all constantly learning and improving the app and the counselling processes. We place particular emphasis on respecting privacy and data protection requirements." 

Currently, "Alles Clara" is available for employees of the partner companies ÖBB, Erste Bank und Sparkassen, Wiener Städtische, Deloitte, Jank Weiler Operenyi, Magenta, IBM and Coca Cola HBC. Recently, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs has also been funding the project, which is being scientifically monitored on an ongoing basis by Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (Division of Nursing Science with a focus on Person-Centred Care Research, project management: Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr. Hanna Mayer).

At the end of 2023, the app should be available to all those seeking advice free of charge. The situation of caring relatives will be discussed again at an online conference in January. Interested parties can register for a newsletter at www.alles-clara.at, where they will also receive information on how to participate.