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Start of the Merkur donation campaign: Make a wish come true for seniors at Christmas!

2020-11-17T21:04:26.737Z


Seniors suffer a lot from the contact restrictions. It is particularly hard when social poverty is compounded by material poverty. Münchner Merkur wants to help - with the Wunschbaum campaign.


Seniors suffer a lot from the contact restrictions.

It is particularly hard when social poverty is compounded by material poverty.

Münchner Merkur wants to help - with the Wunschbaum campaign.

District

- In recent months, it has often been read in connection with Corona that the pandemic is a kind of burning glass.

A magnifying glass whose lens makes existing social issues clearer, more visible.

One of the undoubtedly central social problems of this time revolves around the older generation.

Old-age poverty and loneliness have not only existed since Corona.

But the virus and the measures taken to protect against infection increase the suffering of the elderly.

"We have never been more busy," says Brit Demuth, head of the service and advice center for the elderly at the Taufkirchen neighborhood help.

In the crisis, the seniors "noticed what Corona was doing to us," said Demuth.

In the first lockdown, many older people experienced how lonely Corona makes.

When group offers such as senior afternoons and the like are shut down and personal contacts are sometimes completely lost.

Situation puts an enormous strain on the older generation

Loneliness is closely related to the question of how each individual is connected.

According to the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office, around 5.8 million German citizens over the age of 65 live in a single household.

Especially if they have no children of their own or if they live in distant cities, the elderly often maintain contact almost exclusively with their peers.

Who suddenly belong to the main risk group like themselves and no longer go outside.

The whole situation puts an enormous strain on the older generation, says Humuth and tells of a very old old lady with whom she recently had contact: “She has had to suffer a lot in her life.

But not the Second World War as a young woman, not the death of her own son or moving out of her own house would have bothered her as much as Corona. “If the entire social network breaks down, not much is left.

And through the uncertainty about one's own health, about friendships and the future, many old topics would come up again, experienced humility in her daily work.

A new initiative by the Federal Ministry for Family and Seniors shows how acute the topic is.

Minister Franziska Giffey is initially funding projects against unwanted loneliness with an initial amount of five million euros.

One or the other extra wish remains unfulfilled

Residents of old people's and nursing homes have to suffer in particular from the loneliness that has become acute as a result of Corona.

They spent and sometimes still spend many weeks in isolation.

The contact restrictions made necessary by the pandemic allow family visits, if at all, only to a very limited extent.

And everything that otherwise gives life in the home the chance to be sociable and happy had to be removed from the program this Advent.

Singing circles, Christmas crafts, reading hours, cooking and baking groups, devotions, discussion groups - all canceled.

That leaves your own room, your own bed and the television.

It gets tough when material poverty is added to social poverty.

Whether in their own apartment or in the home - most of the elderly are provided with the essentials.

But there is often nothing left for one or the other extra request.

And even supposed little things like warm shoes for the winter or new reading glasses become inaccessible.

The wish tree campaign

+

With the Wunschbaum campaign, you can make senior citizens happy in nursing homes.

© Münchner Merkur

Münchner Merkur wants to help.

In a kind of wish tree we introduce older people in a loose row who have an unfulfilled heart's desire.

Your wishes are modest.

One lady would be happy about a face cream, another about an illustrated book.

One man wants new training pants, another a coloring pad with pens.

You, dear readers, can pluck a wish from the tree, get it and pack it, perhaps add a personal greeting card or something similar.

We guarantee to deliver your gift personally.

Of course, there are also many other wishes that do not find their way into the newspaper.

Be it out of shame about one's own need or out of reservations about asking strangers for help.

Some older people are also no longer able to formulate their wishes due to their mental constitution.

But their supervisors see a need.

We still want to fulfill all of these wishes.

In cooperation with the Münchner Seniorenhilfe Lichtblick, we offer the opportunity to donate money (see box below).

Let us be there for our older people together.

Generate Christmas joy, give a little warmth of the heart during this challenging time.

A donation can also bring joy

You want to help older people from the Munich district, but you don't have the time to personally get and package a heartfelt wish like the one mentioned above?

Then give some money and donate.

Together with the

Munich association Lichtblick Seniorenhilfe

, Münchner Merkur enables the wishes of senior citizens in the district.

The

Lichtblick association takes care of the acquisition of urgently needed items such as a new mattress or equipment for dementia group offers in the senior facilities

quickly, unbureaucratically and very personally

.

Give a Christmas joy too

, dear readers - and please support our wish tree campaign with a donation.

Please provide your address for a donation receipt.

Please

transfer funds

to the account of the Lichtblick Seniorenhilfe association at Sparda-Bank Munich.

IBAN: DE30 7009 0500 0004 9010 10

BIC: GENODEF1S04

The password is "Wunschbaum"

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-11-17

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