Last wishes remain unfulfilled, volunteers can hardly relieve families: companions of dying and seriously ill people face problems in the Corona crisis. There are also financial worries.
- The corona crisis * also makes hospice services difficult.
- The request wagons for the ASB mortal patient stand still.
- The care of children in need of care is now primarily in the hands of the families.
Kaufbeuren - patience is required in times of the corona crisis . But Sonja Hujo knows that her clients cannot wait. She is the coordinator of the wishing car at the regional association Allgäu of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), whose volunteers help people fulfill their last wishes at the end of their lives : a visit to the family, a return to a loved place or a concert by the favorite band. “Since the exit restriction, there have been no more trips,” says Hujo. "It is very difficult for me personally."
But not only the three ASB wishing cars in Bavaria are either available to the emergency services in times of exit restrictions or lack of radio equipment in the garage. Hospice attendants also face problems. The St. Nikolaus Children's Hospice in Bad Grönenbach (Unterallgäu district), the only inpatient facility of this kind in the Free State, has been closed since March 20. Affected families now look after their children at home.
Corona crisis in Bavaria: hospice services are rarely requested
"The difficult thing about the situation is not knowing what to do next," says Marlies Breher, CEO of the Süddeutsche Kinderhospiz-Stiftung, which supports the facility. The Bavarian Hospice and Palliative Association (BHPV) has achieved that volunteers in outpatient services may exceptionally visit the dying and their families at home , as the Ministry of Health confirms. However, there are hardly any questions here, the board of the BHPV announced. "At the moment, people have the message that voluntary support does not take place."
The full-time employees of the Foundation Outpatient Children's Hospice Munich (AKM) only make home visits to affected families with protective equipment * . This outpatient care is particularly important at the moment, says Christine Bronner, executive chair of the foundation. "We prevent hospital stays and thus the tying of capacities."
Corona crisis in Bavaria: childcare in families through helpers not possible
The volunteers also try to keep in touch by phone, video calls and social media . But there are limits. "The main relief is usually childcare in families, " says Achim Saar, coordinator of the children's hospice service at the Bunter Kreis Foundation in Augsburg. "And that's just not possible now." He sees the Corona crisis as a particular burden for families . "If, for example, the appointment for the setting of the new ventilator or for physiotherapy is canceled, we try to mediate," says Saar.
Hospice services are also concerned about the financial impact of the Corona crisis . Many of them rely on donations. "The struggle for survival has become tougher," said the AKM spokeswoman. "Acquiring donations is more difficult due to the tense economic situation." The South German Children's Hospice Foundation also speaks of a "strong drop in donations". Many sponsor advertising events had to be canceled.
We also inform you about the risk of infection * of the virus, the symptoms * of Covid-19 disease, the development of a vaccine * and possible late effects * for infected people.
In our news ticker we keep you up to date on all developments in Bavaria. A Munich police officer is also one of the Corona victims - he became infected while on duty.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
Frederick Mersi
