Regensburg hospice attendants during the corona pandemic - keep your distance and be close

Created: 12/24/2021, 10:39 AM

The corona pandemic has made the work of hospice employees very difficult in some cases.

© Felix Kästle / dpa / symbol image

Volunteers talk about their work as hospice attendants in the Johannes Hospice in Regensburg and their restrictions due to the corona pandemic.

Regensburg - 103 volunteer hospice attendants from Regensburg * work on the side

at the “Johannes Hospiz” in Pentling (Regensburg district)

, according to

. It is currently the only facility in the district. In the Johannes Hospice as well as in retirement homes, hospitals or at home, the helpers want to give people their time and their closeness. However, Corona * makes closeness difficult.

The training and placement takes place through the Hospiz-Verein Regensburg eV Here all age groups from mid-20s to over 80 are employed.

Together with Kathrin Dehner and Birgit Sturmvoll, Anna Seidl takes over the entire coordination.

The aim of the mediation is to find the best companion for the customer on the basis of shared hobbies and interests in order to establish a connection with him.

Also important - this is not about patients, but about guests.

Corona in Regensburg: Hospice attendants are contact persons for those in need and their relatives

Bettina Callies' everyday life, which she adapts to suit the guests, always looks different.

She has been doing voluntary work for three years now, providing help both at home and in inpatient facilities.

Coordinator Birgit Sturmvoll also says that you are there as a hospice companion for relatives who are lacking exchange during the corona pandemic *.

Neutral people can be trusted and relieved.

Everyday life during the pandemic was different from facility to facility.

While other facilities were temporarily closed, the Johannes Hospice was always open.

Therefore, inquiries were often received from relatives to move seriously ill family members from nursing homes to the hospice.

(By the way: Our brand new Regensburg newsletter informs you regularly about all the important stories from the world cultural heritage city. Register here.)

In the hospice itself, however, there were other challenges, says head Sabine Sudler.

So you had to express your sympathy from a distance of 1.5 meters, although the interaction here actually had a lot to do with touch.

For people with dementia or who have communication problems, hands are an important point of contact, adds Birgit Stumvoll.

For them, touching means “so much more than words”.

When it was now possible to get closer again, it was often unfamiliar and familiar to everyone involved.

“There were always certain inhibitions,” say the coordinators of the

.

Regensburg in the corona pandemic: glimmer of hope for the people of hope

What's next for the hospice in Regensburg?

The self-proclaimed "hope people" Sabine Sudler, Anna Seidl and Birgit Stumvoll want to remain optimistic and make the best possible out of the situation, they emphasize.

A small gift is also planned for Christmas as a thank you for every volunteer hospice attendant.

Working as a volunteer is not just giving, even without a present at the festival.