The Austrian advocacy organization Vertretungsnetz, which monitors freedom-restricting measures in residential and care facilities on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, has once again recorded a new high in such interventions. In 2024, around 60,200 freedom-restricting measures were reported to the organization. In a statement released Wednesday, Vertretungsnetz called on care providers and regional governments to allocate more resources and improve working conditions for staff.
The number of reported cases and affected individuals has been increasing for several years. “Nearly 22,100 people were affected by one or more measures,” said Grainne Nebois-Zeman, head of the Vertretungsnetz resident advocacy division. Compared to 2023, the number of reports rose by 5%, and by almost a third over a three-year span. The report was first covered by the “Ö1 Journal um acht” radio news program.
The organization called the trend “alarming.” Measures classified as freedom-restricting include locked rooms, wheelchair restraint belts, or sedative medication. Such measures are only legally permitted when there is a serious and imminent threat and no less intrusive alternative is available.
Staffing Shortages Heavily Criticized
The situation in nursing and eldercare facilities was described as “particularly concerning.” These facilities accounted for about half of all reports, with around 30,400 newly implemented measures. Of all restrictions, 71% involved sedative medications used to calm restlessness or prevent wandering. Bed railings and wheelchair restraints are also increasingly used again. Vertretungsnetz expressed concern over a sharp rise in the number of individuals subjected to multiple restrictions last year. For the first time since the pandemic, 2024 also saw an increase in measures aimed at preventing residents from leaving designated areas.
“The ongoing staffing shortage in these institutions has a clearly negative impact,” said Nebois-Zeman. “Thanks to the strong personal commitment of care workers, adequate service is still being provided in many places. However, pressure and high staff turnover are leading to fewer opportunities to mobilize residents. As a result, we are seeing more limitations on both quality of life and basic rights.”
6,800 Freedom Restrictions Reported for Children
Vertretungsnetz also monitors freedom-restricting measures applied to children and adolescents living in care homes or attending special education schools. Reports may involve cases where caregivers administer psychotropic drugs or physically restrain children during behavioral outbursts. In 2024, around 6,800 new measures were reported and reviewed. Of these, roughly 60% occurred in residential facilities and 40% in educational settings. A total of 2,123 children and adolescents were affected by one or more restrictions.
In recent years, Vertretungsnetz has observed that caring for minors has become increasingly difficult, especially in urban areas. Highly traumatized children often exhibit challenging or violent behavior, resulting in more intensive interventions. “Even under intense pressure, we always scrutinize coercive measures involving children and adolescents particularly carefully to ensure they are truly necessary,” said Nebois-Zeman. “Experiencing violence can retraumatize these young people and deprive them of opportunities for healthy development.”
