House Röhling in Mittenwald: closed in summer

Created: 01/24/2022, 20:00

By: Christof Schnürer

The required renovation cannot be refinanced: Therefore, Haus Röhling has to close in June.

© Josef Hornsteiner

The addiction therapy center at Oberen Rain will soon be part of local history.

The institution of the Teutonic Order will probably be closed for economic reasons in the middle of the year.

The necessary renovation work would simply have devoured too much money.

Thus a 32-year era in Mittenwald comes to an end.

Mittenwald

– Helmut Meixner's choice of words speaks volumes: the director of the home finds the latest development “a pity and a pity” and “deadly sad”, at the frustrating end of which Haus Röhling ends. On June 30th, the search therapy center in Mittenwald will be closed after more than 30 years. "We very much regret the decision to close the Röhling house, but we can assure you that we have examined all options for action very carefully," says Jochen Meyer, the head of addiction support from the Teutonic Order, which is the sponsor of this facility, via a press release.

This news is also a bitter blow for the political community. "Definitely a loss for Mittenwald," regrets Mayor Enrico Corongiu (SPD). Especially since Haus Röhling and its residents have always been involved in local life - for example at the Christmas market. "So I think the latest development is a pity, but I can understand the decision."

The person who is allowed to manage the Mittenwald location - one of 60 social sites of the Order's work nationwide - is Helmut Meixner (62), who has been in charge of the Oberen Rain 3 for almost 31 years.

The Oberauer can therefore confidently be called a man of the first hour.

"I built it up, developed it further, and now it's coming to an end." Melancholy mixes in Meixner's review.

But the director of the home, who believed in the Mittenwald project to the end, is also self-critical.

"None of us have managed to come up with a viable concept for the future under these conditions." Meixner is aiming at the long-awaited modernization of the addiction therapy facility.

Because due to legal requirements of the Free State of Bavaria, the structural situation of the property, which belongs to Slauko Prince von Sayn-Wittgenstein,

We've had this uncertainty for ten years.

Home manager Helmut Meixner

"We've had this uncertainty for ten years," explains Meixner. Some hope germinated in the summer of 2021, when the Mittenwald municipal council did not put any obstacles in the way of a possible extension or conversion. On the contrary: "We are glad that we have this facility," said Mayor Corongiu emphatically at the time. The submitted planning envisaged the demolition of the northern existing building and the construction of a new two-storey room wing, which is connected to the old complex by a barrier-free connecting corridor. Yesterday's snow: Despite "intensive efforts", it was not possible "to ensure a sustainable perspective for our Röhling company," according to the press release.The costs for the conversion measures that have become necessary as a result of the "Ordinance on the Implementation of the Care and Housing Quality Act" "exceed the refinancing possibilities". The bitter consequence: "After years of intensive consideration and testing, the closure of our facility has become unavoidable."

Sad for the current 30 employees and the remaining 20 residents (a total of 56 therapy places).

Some of them have been living in the Röhling house for several decades.

"That hurts especially," says Meixner, "they have found a home here."

These people shouldn't fall through the cracks.

"The religious organizations have an excellent addiction support network in the region," emphasizes Jochen Meyer.

"Therefore, together with the residents, we are now examining the option of being placed in other facilities." In addition, with regard to the workforce, "in joint discussions about individual, socially acceptable and future-oriented professional perspectives".

Home manager Helmut Meixner, who is still responsible for an adequate therapy center in Bad Tölz with Haus Waldherr, in five months only the memory of 31 years together and Haus Röhling remains - for him "a wonderful facility" and an enormously important part of his life.

Background:

Most of the property was built in 1955 as a so-called cure and diet home and expanded in 1965.

In 1970 the building was extended and the swimming pool covered.

Since 1990, the complex has been home to a socio-therapeutic facility for people with addictions under the sponsorship of the Teutonic Order.

Haus Röhling, as it is better known in Mittenwald, has 56 inpatient and 14 outpatient places.