About us

What does MOMO do?

The MOMO Children's Palliative Care Center supports children and young people with life-threatening or life-shortening illnesses and is there for their entire family. Multidisciplinary care often begins at the time of diagnosis, is unlimited in duration, and is tailored to individual needs. All services are free of charge for families.

Who does MOMO care for?

MOMO accompanies life, with all its ups and downs, and is there for the whole family. For the most seriously ill children and adolescents, as well as for their parents, siblings, and relatives—sometimes for a few days, but often for many months and years.

Life-shortening or life-threatening illnesses are often complex and rare. The children and adolescents suffer from metabolic, heart, kidney, neurological, or muscular diseases, for example, but also from cancer or severe disabilities as a result of accidents. 

Who cares for the families?

The MOMO care team consists of doctors, certified health care professionals and nurses (pediatric and adolescent care), physical therapists, social workers, clinical and health psychologists, speech therapists, music therapists, educators, volunteer hospice companions, and their coordinators.

As unique as each seriously ill child and each family situation is, MOMO responds to the needs of families on an individual basis and offers the necessary support 365 days a year.

“We see palliative care and hospice care as holistic life support and are grateful for the trust that families place in us.”

Dr. Martina Kronberger-Vollnhofer worked as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at St. Anna Children's Hospital for over 20 years and has been head of MOMO since its founding in 2013. She is also involved as a children's hospice representative in the Austrian Hospice Association (DVHÖ) and represents the interests of seriously ill children and young people and their families throughout Austria.

MOMO At Home

MOMO regularly visits families in their familiar surroundings (MOMO At Home) with its mobile children's hospice and palliative care teams, providing medical, nursing, therapeutic, and counseling support. Many families find home visits a great relief during these challenging times. The time the MOMO team spends with the families provides insights into their everyday lives. This also creates a sense of security and trust.

MOMO ZeitRaum

The MOMO ZeitRaum day care center in Vienna's Währing district is a valuable addition to the mobile services. If there is a lack of space in the home environment, necessary care measures, therapies, and treatments can take place here. If there is a lack of time, parents know that their sick children are in the best hands at the MOMO ZeitRaum, while they themselves can find relief and recharge their batteries for a few hours. The MOMO ZeitRaum is also a safe place for bereavement counseling, holistic advice, and exchange for affected parents and siblings. In addition, networking events and training courses for relatives and specialist staff take place here.

“Because time is life. And life dwells in the heart.”

From the book “MOMO” by Michael Ende

Grief counseling

Grief is emotionally exhausting work. It takes time and attention. Grief counseling can help families better cope with the emotional, psychological, and social effects of a life-threatening illness or the loss of a child, providing support and stability on this individual journey.

Achieving more together

The MOMO Children's Palliative Care Center was founded in 2013 on the initiative of Caritas Socialis, Caritas, and MOKI Vienna's mobile pediatric nursing service and has since worked closely with hospitals, care facilities, and registered specialists.

Interprofessional cooperation and close communication between the full-time MOMO team and the volunteer hospice companions are of great importance both in mobile care and in the MOMO ZeitRaum.

While MOMO ZuHause—care provided to families at home by the mobile children's hospice and palliative care teams—is funded by the Vienna Social Fund, the services offered at the MOMO ZeitRaum day care center are financed by donations.

Thanks to the generous support of donors, cooperation partners, and sponsors, we are able to be there— in laughter and in tears.