The Malteser Aid Service maintains its offer even in Corona times.
However, the volunteers also need reinforcement, especially with the visiting service.
District -
Corona is a challenge for society as a whole, but in a special way for elderly people in need of help, who usually automatically belong to the group of risk patients.
"At the moment, many older people are even more dependent on reliable support than usual," says Malteser District Manager Sebastian Oberpriller.
That is why the emergency service continues to offer its visiting service - and is looking for reinforcements.
Loneliness is a major problem for many single elderly people.
Even more senior citizens are currently affected because contacts with relatives and neighbors are being reduced and social senior events are being canceled due to concerns about infections.
The volunteers of the Malteser Visiting Service, who look after the elderly in retirement homes and private households, keep in touch, emphasizes Oberpriller.
Where a personal visit is not possible, the volunteers call once or twice a week.
They often do additional shopping or get prescriptions and medicines for the people they care for.
"Since the first lockdown, we have received a particularly large number of inquiries from senior citizens," reports Gina La Rosa, Head of the Visiting Service.
There is now a waiting list.
"We are urgently looking for more volunteers for this honorary position, because the older people are waiting for our visit," says La Rosa.
Interested parties should be empathetic and responsible and want to get involved beyond the time of Corona, so the Maltese wish.
In coping with everyday life, the corona pandemic has also confronted sprightly seniors who are still self-sufficient with unknown problems: For fear of infection, many high-risk patients no longer want to go shopping themselves.
Many open lunch tables in senior facilities were also canceled for reasons of infection protection.
As a result, Malteser International recorded a significantly higher number of inquiries for the menu service during the first lockdown in spring.
“At short notice, we were able to provide these seniors with a menu every day or on individual days, as desired, thereby relieving them of a major concern,” reports Oberpriller.
If contacts are to be restricted, the emergency call service is of particular importance.
Relatives who are concerned in particular have been making sure that parents or older relatives have a device for emergencies since spring.
"Seniors can use it to request help around the clock at the push of a button," says Oberpriller.
If you have deposited a key with the Maltese, an employee comes to help in emergencies that do not require an ambulance service, observing all hygiene and protective measures.
Nobody has to worry that relatives or neighbors themselves could become a risk of infection for high-risk patients.
The increased safety precautions also apply to the individual transport service, which enables those in need to attend doctor or therapy appointments even during pandemics and lockdowns.
The Malteser employees were specially trained, said Oberpriller.
A special structure was set up internally in the spring to ensure that the important services for caring for people can be maintained.
“We don't let anyone down,” emphasizes Oberpriller.
"The people are very grateful to us for this and show it again and again, especially to our employees on site and on the phone."
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Who needs help
... or would like to support the visiting service on a voluntary basis, contact us at +49 (0) 81 22 99 55 16 or on the Internet at www.malteser-erding.de.