Founding of the Kalksburg sanatorium

Univ. Prof. Dr. Hans Hoff finally managed to gain the support of Anton Proksch, the Federal Minister for Social Affairs, for his idea of founding an alcoholics’ asylum. This resulted in the establishment of the «Stiftung Genesungsheim» board of trustees which held its constituent assembly on 5.12.1956 under the auspices of Anton Proksch. The board of trustees comprised 12 Öffnet einen internen Link im aktuellen Fensterfounding members and 6 Öffnet einen internen Link im aktuellen Fensterfounding institutions. 

In 1957 Univ. Prof. Dr. Hans Hoff took over the management of the Kalksburg sanatorium («Genesungsheim Kalksburg») which developed what at the time was a revolutionary concept for the treatment of alcohol addiction, based on three main elements:

  1. Voluntary hospitalization
  2. Treatment within a therapeutic community
  3. Non-residential after-treatment

This new concept represented a major change in the treatment of alcohol and medication addicts not only in Austria but in the entire German-speaking world.

Premises for the new sanatorium were provided by the Social Security Administration for Workers at Mackgasse 7-9 in the 23rd district of Vienna.
 
On 17.1.1961 the sanatorium opened with 65 beds for male patients. Univ. Prof. Dr. Hoff entrusted Univ. Prof. Dr. Kryspin-Exner with responsibility for running the institution. The very first team comprised 19 members, among them two doctors and four nurses.

On 20.3.1961 the management committee (consisting of Univ. Prof. Dr. Hans Hoff as the chairman, Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Christian Broda and Hofrat Dr. J. Neubauer) took up its work. The committee’s task was to take care of day-to-day economic, administrative and medical matters. 

The sanatorium was officially opened by the Federal President Adolf Schärf on 5.5.1961. 

With the deed of donation dated 22.11.1961 ownership of the building was transferred to the foundation «Genesungsheim Kalksburg».