Palliaviva

What Palliaviva does

Palliaviva is a Swiss nonprofit foundation (Stiftung) headquartered at Dörflistrasse 50, 8050 Zürich, that delivers specialized mobile palliative care to patients in their homes across the Canton of Zürich. Care is organized through four color-coded regional teams (Grün, Gelb, Blau, Rot) with round-the-clock availability, and is delivered by roughly a dozen specially trained palliative nurses. The foundation has held the qualitépallative certification since 2018 and marked its 35th anniversary in July 2024.

The operating model blends regulated healthcare revenue with philanthropic funding. Palliaviva is remunerated primarily through Swiss health-insurance reimbursement and municipal contributions, with patient co-payments legally capped (around CHF 7.65 per day for adults). Roughly 40% of each care hour must be financed through donations, and the foundation runs recurring fundraising and community programs (such as VivaKafi) to sustain this gap. Services are anchored by strong referral relationships with hospitals, Spitex organizations, GPs, and municipal health authorities across the canton.

The foundation is currently extending its scope through a 3-year pilot to deliver palliative care into nursing homes (starting January 2026), while also expanding Advance Care Planning (ACP/GVP) and continuing-education offerings for external professionals. Leadership comprises Ilona Schmidt as Geschäftsleiterin, Urs Huber as Stiftungsratspräsident, and Olaf Schulz as deputy, supported by a compact governance and operations team.

Name

Palliaviva

Legal name

Stiftung Palliaviva

Website

https://palliaviva.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Palliaviva is a Swiss nonprofit foundation providing specialized mobile palliative care to patients in their homes across the Canton of Zürich, operating four regional teams with 24/7 availability and financed through health insurance reimbursement, municipal funding, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialized Home Palliative Care

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care (Home-Based) Providers (HLAFAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community-Based Palliative Care (Home-Based Non-Hospice) (HLADAHAH), Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF)

Keywords

• Home palliative care
• Specialized nursing services
• End-of-life care
• Advance care planning
• Mobile healthcare teams

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Reimbursement: A portion of full costs is billed to health insurance
2. Municipality Funding: As a specialized palliative care provider contracted under Leistungsvereinbarung (service agreements) with municipalities, Palliaviva receives additional payments from municipalities to cover costs beyond what health insurance covers
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Nearly 40% of each care hour must be financed through donations. Donation categories include proximity donations (CHF 50 for travel costs), comfort donations (CHF 130 for family counseling), and annual patron memberships (CHF 240/year or CHF 20/month). Legacies and memorial donations are also accepted.
4. Patient Co-payment: Maximum patient co-payment of CHF 7.65 per day

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Palliaviva is a nonprofit foundation operating a mobile specialized palliative care service that delivers 24/7 nursing and medical support to people with incurable, life-threatening, or chronic progressive diseases in their own homes throughout the Canton of Zürich. The service complements rather than replaces local Spitex organizations by managing complex symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, and nausea, and by creating personalized emergency plans to prevent unwanted hospital admissions. Since January 2026, the offering has been extended into nursing homes through a three-year cantonal pilot project.

Product overview

Palliaviva operates as a specialized mobile palliative care service organization providing comprehensive at-home care for people with incurable diseases. The core offering is specialized palliative care delivered in patients' homes, available 24/7 with a team of nursing and medical professionals. This core service is complemented by a nursing home consulting module launched in January 2026, grief support meetings (VivaKafi), advance care planning assistance, continuing education services for other healthcare organizations, a podcast, and an authentic photography project for public awareness. The organization works in four regional teams (Grün, Gelb, Blau, Rot) across the canton of Zurich, supplementing rather than replacing local Spitex services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum patient co-payment of only CHF 7.65 per day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Palliative-Care-Team der Gesundheitsversorgung Zürcher Oberland (GZO)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2023Palliaviva alternates weekend on-call duties with the palliative team affiliated with Spital Wetzikon (GZO).
• Spital MännedorfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose network with 24-hour emergency availability, strengthened collaboration approximately two years prior to 2023, involving local Spitex. Successful pilot phase that was continued.
• Spital Affoltern am AlbiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation for the Villa Sonnenberg competence center for palliative care. IDR (interdisciplinary rapport) meetings held at the villa. Palliaviva staff work closely with hospital staff and refer patients as needed.
• Spital BülachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the competence center for palliative care at Spital Bülach. One of the partner hospitals in the regional care network.
• OrbetanminorOthersPalliaviva works closely with Orbetan for night care services. Orbetan staff have various nursing qualification levels. Night care services through Orbetan are chargeable.
• Age-StiftungsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports the VivaKafi grief support meetings. One of the foundations that supports Palliaviva's grief support events.
• Migros-KulturprozentsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports the VivaKafi grief support meetings with funding.
• Walder StiftungsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports the VivaKafi grief support meetings.
• Cornelius Knüpffer StiftungsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports the VivaKafi grief support meetings.
• Care-Café Spital Affoltern / Villa SonnenbergsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the Care-Café of Spital Affoltern in the Villa Sonnenberg, competence center for palliative care, for grief support meetings in the Gelb region/Knonaueramt.
• Reformierte Kirchgemeinde BülachsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for VivaKafi grief support meetings in the Blau region/Bülach, located at Heiliger BimBam in the sigristenhaus.
• Verband spezialisierter Palliative Care Leistungserbringer (SPaC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association bringing together all mobile palliative care teams in Canton Zürich. Joint goals: comprehensive coverage with specialized palliative care, cost-covering financing, and quality assurance. Regular joint continuing education sessions are conducted.
• Palliative zh+shcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional palliative care network for Zürich and Schaffhausen. Palliaviva is active in this professional network.
• Schutz & Rettung ZürichsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaboration on patient transports and coordination in emergency situations. SRZ handles transports when no special urgency exists.
• Raisenow AGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationFundraising platform provider used by Palliaviva for online donations. PCI DSS certified.
• Friedhof Forum ZürichsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on podium discussions on topics such as 'Sterbefasten' (voluntary refusal of food and fluids). Venue for events as part of the 'endlich.menschlich' action week.
• Palliativseelsorge. Begleitung daheimsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical team of twelve pastoral workers (five Catholic, seven Protestant) offering spiritual care to seriously ill people and their families at home. Palliaviva refers patients when desired. Financed by both national churches.
• Local Spitex OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPalliaviva works exclusively as a complement to local Spitex organizations, not replacing them. Partners include: Team Grün partners (Spitex Zollikon, Küsnacht, Zürichsee, Stäfa, Pfannenstiel, Glattal, IMWIL); Team Gelb partners (Spitex Knonaueramt, Birmensdorf-Aesch, Uitikon Waldegg, Seewadel, Zimmerberg, Langnau, Horgen-Oberrieden, Wädenswil, Richterswil/Samstagern); Team Blau partners (RegioSpitex Limmattal, Spitex rechtes Limmattal, Regional Bezirk Dielsdorf, Wehntal, Steinmaur-Neerach, Buchs-Dällikon, Stadel-Bachs-Weiach, Oberglatt, Rümlang, Bülach, KZU-Spitex Winkel, Rafz, Stadt Kloten, Opfikon-Glattbrugg, am Rhein); Team Rot partners (Stadt Winterthur, Evangelische Spitex Winterthur, Katholische Krankenpflege Oberi, Curabona, RegioSeuzach, KZU-Spitex, Flaachtal, Neftenbach-Pfungen-Dättlikon, Wyland AG, Senevita Casa, Embrachertal)
• HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospitals for patient referrals and care coordination: Spital Affoltern am Albis, Der Balgrist, Spital Bülach, Tumorzentrum Hirslanden, Klinik im Park, Spital Limmattal, Klinik Susenberg, Stadtspital Triemli, Spital Uster, Stadtspital Waid, Kantonsspital Winterthur (KSW), Spital Zollikerberg, See-Spital, Spital Männedorf, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Uroviva. Interest in optimized interface management between inpatient and outpatient care.
• Specialized Oncology CenterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerZentrum für Integrative Onkologie (Richterswil) and Onkozentrum Zürich provide specialized oncology services with Palliaviva involvement.
• Health LiguessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerKrebsliga (Cancer League) Zürich, Lunge Zürich (Lung association), ALS-Vereinigung (ALS Association) - organizations providing support and information to patients with specific conditions.
• Volunteer OrganizationssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer services for patient support: Besuchsdienst Furttal, Rufnetz Embrachertal, Vereinigung Begleitung Kranker Winterthur Andelfingen, Rufnetz Rafzerfeld, Wabe Knonaueramt, Wabe Limmattal, Wabe Zürich, Wunschambulanz. Services are generally free for patients but without nursing qualifications.
• Spitex Verband Kanton ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCantonal Spitex association representing Spitex organizations in Zürich. Palliaviva maintains active partnership in the professional network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Palliative-Care-Team GZO (Spital Wetzikon): Affiliated with Spital Wetzikon (GZO) in the Zürcher Oberland, this is another mobile specialized palliative care team operating in adjacent geography and alternating weekend on-call duties with Palliaviva. Most directly comparable peer in terms of service model, staffing, and patient population.
• Verband spezialisierter Palliative Care Leistungserbringer (SPaC): Industry association uniting all mobile specialized palliative care providers in Canton Zürich. SPaC members are the direct peer set of Palliaviva, sharing the same funding model, quality label, and canton-wide coordination goals.
• Palliative zh+sh: Regional palliative care network for the cantons of Zürich and Schaffhausen in which Palliaviva actively participates. Brings together specialized providers and represents a peer network of comparable mobile palliative care teams.
• Spitex Verband Kanton Zürich: Cantonal Spitex association covering basic home health care across the Canton of Zürich. Palliaviva explicitly complements (rather than replaces) Spitex services and is an active partner; comparable on patient population and geography but a basic-care (non-specialized) model.

Broad incumbents

• Spital Affoltern am Albis / Villa Sonnenberg: Houses the Villa Sonnenberg competence center for palliative care, hosts IDR meetings with Palliaviva staff, and runs a Care-Café for grief support. Functions as a hospital-based palliative provider and clinical partner rather than direct home-care competitor.
• Onkozentrum Zürich: Specialized oncology center and Palliaviva partner that delivers disease-specific (oncology) care including palliative aspects. Comparable on clinical specialization for seriously ill patients but operates from a medical-oncology rather than home-care delivery model.

Others

• Krebsliga Zürich: Swiss cancer league regional chapter providing counseling and support to oncology patients and families. Adjacent (not direct competitor) — overlaps on patient population and bereavement support, and serves as a referral partner rather than competitor.
• Palliativseelsorge. Begleitung daheim: Ecumenical team of twelve pastoral workers (Catholic and Protestant) offering spiritual care to seriously ill people and their families at home. Palliaviva refers patients to this service; complementary rather than competing, but overlaps on home-based end-of-life support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxeBXl9AzsevLGsjp2O-_7w/videos?view=0&sort=da
• Facebookfacebook.com/palliaviva
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/palliaviva
• Instagraminstagram.com/palliaviva

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Palliaviva