A hospice for children and families located in Burgenland, Austria

The Sterntalerhof

We offer life support, end-of-life care and grief counseling –
for families with children who are terminally ill.

In the protected atmosphere of our facility, we support affected families on their journey back to everyday life – even when this journey includes saying goodbye to a loved one. In doing so, we rely on the expertise of an interdisciplinary team from the fields of therapy and education, psychology and social work, psychotherapy and pastoral care – supported by specially trained therapy horses that have a unique ability to touch the hearts of children.

The Sterntalerhof draws its name from the German fairy tale „Die Sterntaler“, known to the English Speaking world as „Star Money“. It tells the story of a poor orphan girl who selflessly gives away her last possessions to those in need, including her clothes. As she stands under the night sky with nothing left, golden stars fall from above, transforming into coins and providing her with abundance. Her kindness and generosity are rewarded, showing the power of selflessness and trust.

Discover Our Facility.

A place of hope offering a diverse range of therapies.

The Sterntalerhof is located on the outskirts of Loipersdorf-Kitzladen in the sun-drenched region of Southern Burgenland. Our facility has grown step by step and now provides space for a wide range of therapy forms – from animal-assisted support and art therapy to talk therapy and pastoral care.

Take a 3D-Tour

How we work

Seeing the family as a whole –
offering individual therapy and support.

The main part of our work focuses on treating families with seriously and terminally ill children at the Sterntalerhof. Usually families stay for a week, sometimes two. During this week, we aim to make all family members draw strength from an individual therapy plan, tailored to their specific needs. These stays can take place multiple times a year, in some cases over many years, and even beyond the passing of a child.

The serious illness of a child shakes the entire family. The sick child is in the hospital for weeks or even months, the mother and father are at the limits of their resilience, and no one has time for the healthy siblings. And at some point, the family threatens to fall apart.

Peter Kai, Co-Founder

Families welcome!

The Sterntalerhof is 100% financed by private donations.

At the Sterntalerhof, no family is ever rejected for financial reasons. Yet, we are 100% financed by private institutions, companies and donators. Thus we a rely on a strong network of people all over Austria who are working for and supporting the Sterntalerhof. We call them „Sterntalers“.

Various forms of therapy

A perfect setting for individual care and support.

Sterntalerhof offers an ideal setting for personalized care and support. Nestled in the peaceful rural landscape of Southern Burgenland, it provides ample space for a variety of therapeutic activities. Children and Families benefit among others from animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, music and movement therapy, and psychological support.

A multiprofessional team

25 years of experience have created profound knowledge.

Our families are supported by an interdisciplinary team of well-educated specialists who bring extensive knowledge to the fields of therapy and education, psychology and social work, psychotherapy, and pastoral care. This team is further enhanced by specially trained therapy horses and a dedicated organizational team that manages facility and garden maintenance, kitchen services, and overall site operations, creating a warm atmosphere and ideal conditions for our families.

A picture

is worth a thousand words

Unfortunately, all of our videos showcasing our work are currently in German, so we may not be able to show you what we do through motion pictures. However, we can provide still images. We think they tell a variety of stories.

A visit to our YouTube channel might still be worthwhile.