Award-worthy commitment

The Rotary Club Gauting-Würmtal awards the Hartmut-Johnsen Prize to the Hospice Association Würmtal.

The prize is endowed with 2500 euros.

Gauting / Würmtal

- beaming with joy, Dr.

Doris Unterreitmeier, the chairwoman of the Würmtal Hospice Association, received the award for her voluntary hospice helpers.

Even if the handover was completely unspectacular due to the corona.

In front of Unterreitmeier's Jahn pharmacy in Lochham, on Monday, President Professor Ulrich Wagner presented her with the Hartmut Johnsen Prize from the Rotary Club of Gauting-Würmtal, endowed with 2500 euros.

"Living independently until the end" - the great concern of the Würmtal Hospice Association, founded in 1996, is financially supported with this award, emphasized the public welfare officer of the club, Dr.

Astrid Klinger.

"We support seriously ill people so that they can stay at home until the end," explained Doris Unterreitmeier.

In order to relieve relatives, 25 trained volunteers are currently available.

And the need for support is growing.

"This year alone we have accompanied 40 seriously ill patients."

Palliative care worker Andrea Ossimitz coordinates the work of the volunteers.

In courses and with internships, the Würmtaler hospice attendants from all age groups are well trained in advance - "as conversation partners for seriously ill and dying people and their relatives".

The Gautinger Rotary Club wants to promote this important goal this year with the award named after its late founder Hartmut Johnsen.

The prize money should be used to “finance the training and supervision of volunteers who accompany dementia patients”, explained Doris Unterreitmeier.

After all, people with dementia and their relatives in particular need support from trained volunteers.

It is also important to relieve the relatives, who often come to their limits through care.

She experienced that with her own grandmother, said the chairwoman.

She climbed over the garden fence without any problems "at the age of over 80" and escaped from home.

"It's not pleasant for relatives," said Unterreitmeier, who is also the parish council chairman of St. Johannes Evangelist Lochham and CSU councilor in Graefelfing.

In such “extreme situations” the friendly exchange with hospice helpers helps, therefore: “Kudos to our volunteers.” The pharmacist is a trained hospice helper herself.

"I accompanied my aunt in the dying process."

The association works very well with the outpatient hospice service Gauting, emphasized Unterreitmeier.

"If our coordinator is absent, Marion Jettenberger, head of operations in Gautingen, also takes on courses with us."

Christine Cless-Wesle