Fridolina in Vienna: A new home for chronically ill children!

Fridolina in Vienna: A new home for chronically ill children!

In the heart of Vienna Ottakring there is a special facility that focuses on the specialized care of chronically ill children and young people: the Fridolina children's care home. Since opening in 2023, this home has filled a significant gap in Austria's care options landscape. Until Fridolina was launched, there were only two options for caring for such children: hospitalization or home care. FM4 reports that the domicile offers 14 care places, half of which are permanently occupied, while the other half is available for temporary bridge care.

What makes the Fridolina team special is its composition of young professionals who work on innovative communication methods to give non-verbal children a voice. Here, trust is at the heart of care. The children are actively integrated into all care processes, which not only increases their quality of life but also promotes their independence. Physiotherapist Gundi emphasizes that the quality of life of the young residents is enormously improved compared to traditional hospitals.

Focus on children's rights and creative play

But Fridolina offers more than just medical care: a social worker in the team is specifically dedicated to child protection and the implementation of children's rights within the facility. There is also a working group that deals intensively with issues of children's safety and rights. The many activities that take place there promote not only the medical but also the creative development of the children.

Promoting creativity is fundamental in the development of children. According to a blog about creative games, free drawing, story-making, crafts, and role-playing, among others, are valuable activities that stimulate the imagination. Here the children are given space and time for exploration and play, without strict rules or pressure to be perfect. Things like making dolls, creating sculptures, or even writing your own story are just some of the ways to shape the reality of a creative everyday life.

Palliative care and family integration

At Fridolina, the children also enjoy the advantages of a family environment during their palliative care. This form of care means that those affected not only receive medical care, but also receive psychosocial support. Outpatient palliative services play an important role, especially when the health situation deteriorates and more intensive care is necessary. The German Society for Social Pediatrics describes that an interdisciplinary team of doctors, therapists and social workers is available to assist the children if necessary to ensure the best possible support.

Although the topic of death is a constant companion, life is always the priority for the team and the residents. Many children in Fridolina go to school and are firmly integrated into everyday life. This not only ensures medical care, but also enables a happy and fulfilled life in which creativity and joy of life always have a high priority.

Anyone interested can get a more in-depth picture of the work at Fridolina today at the FM4 field recordings and find out how not only care but also a holistic approach to quality of life for chronically ill children is practiced here. FM4 will provide exciting insights.