data protection

Today's just one of these days where I'm amazed how well data protection in Austria is working.
Here's the case: I'm supposed to find out where a certain person is residing. Several data leaks made sure that I know that she's not living where her residential registration form says she should be living. Since the person was born in 1926 I assume she might be living in a nursing home somewhere. This is information you don't get, ever. Or at least you shouldn't.
It's strictly forbidden to give away any information on the whereabouts of a person if she's living in a sanatorium or nursing home or mental institution if you're not a relative and apply for the information in person. No info over the phone, because you could be anyone just saying you're a relative, right?
Well, I called with a good lie at hand and the word data protection wasn't even mentioned.
It scares me a little.