"Actually, our work is close": This is how the hospice group supports in times of Corona

Corona focuses more on death, but many people find it difficult to deal with. That is what the Freising hospice group is there for. The crisis has changed its work, but it has not become less important.

Freising - In society, old age and death are often suppressed. The corona pandemic brings these issues back into focus. But many people find it difficult to deal with. This is what the Freising hospice group is there for, whose office has recently reopened. Stephanie Warsberg, who coordinates the group, explains how the employees now continue to support dying and relatives with care, advice and support.

"It is difficult for many to keep their distance"

Ms. Warsberg, your work lives from closeness, but keeping your distance is the order of the day. How do you deal with that?

It’s really difficult. When I get home to people, many find it difficult to keep their distance. Closeness and physical contact are human needs that you feel again in a fearful time. The worlds of need and duty collide. Actually, our work is close, it works with intuition. But during Corona, reason is paramount.

What has changed since the pandemic?

Usually, many volunteer hospice attendants visit dying people and their families. However, since the volunteers are not allowed to work, we full-time staff take over this service - there are a total of six of us. Visits to home are now shorter. Consultations and topics that you would much rather discuss together at the dining table are put on the phone. Everything that the hospice group offers, such as training, lectures and training as a hospice supervisor, like so many other things, does not take place.

"It is important to know that there is a place to go"

How does a home visit currently work?

We are on the go with a face mask and comply with the well-known hygiene rules. In the past few weeks, it has been striking that many people were more anxious because they were more alone. For example, a woman said that if her husband died now she would be very afraid to be alone because the children could not come. She was very happy when she was told that she could contact us and someone would come over if her husband's condition deteriorated.

Usually, the hospice group also looks after women and men in nursing homes.

We just can't get in there anymore. No chance! Fortunately, relaxations for relatives have now come into force. But when retirement homes and hospitals didn't allow visitors, you couldn't say goodbye to a dying person. Because many people were alone in mourning situations, we expect that afterwards there will be a greater need to deal with this mourning. We hope that these people will respond to their needs and that they will give themselves the support.

How does the hospice group help in such cases?

It is important to know that there is a place to go. A place where you can share extreme loneliness with competent people. As always, we are there for people who feel alone with existential questions.

"We accompany people so that they can make good decisions"

The office at Mainburger Straße 1 has reopened a few days ago. That brings back at least a bit of closeness.

Yes, we can hold one-on-one discussions in our rooms and support anyone who wants to. There may be older people who are concerned about whether corona infection is fatal to them in any case and who have many questions. Or recently, a woman came forward whose mother lives in a nursing home in Baden. The daughter, who has the power of attorney with her siblings, sought advice from us to understand what different treatment options are possible and what the decision for a palliative treatment means, for example. In such situations it becomes clear how alone people with existential questions are at the moment. Due to the new disease, finitude moves into our everyday life in a completely different way.

What is the core of this consulting work - especially in times of Corona?

It is not a matter of lashing down an addition in the living will. It is about advising people on this disposal. And the same applies to those who have a power of attorney. We accompany them so that they can make good decisions when the time comes. It is important to me to know that there are authorized representatives who are up to the situation and who know what their relatives want. It is crucial.

Good to know

The Freising hospice group can be reached from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on tel. (0 81 61) 53 25 25 or on the 24-hour standby phone at (0 81 61) 87 15 35. Appointment requests for counseling or funeral interviews can also be sent by email to info@hospizgruppe-freising.de. In the hospice office, the well-known hygiene rules apply, and wearing a face mask is mandatory.

Read also: What happens when we die? Answers to all questions related to death can be found in the last aid course. The leaders explain why everyone should take part.