Hospitals and psychiatric institutions for mentally ill persons: application of law and cooperation frameworks” (“Zur Unterbringung psychisch kranker Menschen: Rechtsanwendung und Kooperationszusammenhänge”) from April 2019. According to this study, there is a huge lack of after-care programmes or mobile care as well as places in assisted living facilities. This is an increasing problem for older persons with mental illnesses in particular. The situation is highly critical when it comes to extremely care-intensive cases or multiple problems such as in the gerontopsychiatric area (e.g. dementia patients with aggressive outbreaks). Hospitals have to provide “care psychiatry” in such cases because suitable after-care or housing cannot be organised for the patients. This often results in extended stays in the in-patient area of hospitals, thus increasing the risk of hospitalisation. Lack of follow-up care facilities in Tyrol During several monitoring visits Commission 1 found that there are too few follow-up care facilities for geriatric patients in Tyrol. There is a lack of shortterm care places in particular, which older patients can avail of after a stay in hospital to help them strengthen or regain their independence. In a statement of opinion, the Land Tyrol referred to the qualified short-term care model (“transitional care”) that is currently applied in Schwaz (SeneCura social centre) and Kitzbühel (Altenwohnheim Kitzbühel GmbH). At the end of 2018, a total of 31 transitional care places had been approved and were in operation. It is planned to increase the number of places to 124 by 2025 and to expand the model to other locations (Innsbruck, St. Johann, Lienz, Reutte, Zams). Non-hospitalised care for persons with special needs In Vienna too, the current volume of residential and care facilities outside the hospital is insufficient, as is verified from ongoing monitoring visits by Commission 4. For patients with special needs, in particular, the number of currently available needs-related residential places, out-patient care structures and consultation services is to be criticised. Those particularly affected include adolescents with severe social behaviour disorders or persons with mental disorders and intellectual impairments or multiple disabilities. The consequence of these care deficits is that hospital stays last longer than necessary, the waiting times for new admissions are extended and patients are released to other Laender, amongst others. The recommendation of the NPM to increase the number of residential and care facilities was received positively by the Vienna Social Fund (Fond Soziales Wien). According to a statement of opinion, around 200 new places have been created since 2015. A general concept for an (additional) facility which is intended to relieve the ward visited by the commission at Hietzing Hospital – Neurological Rehabilitation Centre Rosenhügel has been drafted. 286 new residential facilities with night duty should be completed by 2024. The NPM holds the view that a non-hospitalised way of care for patients following in-patient psychiatric treatment must be ensured nationwide. 57