Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Feel at home in the KJE facilities

Created: 07/28/2022, 2:00 p.m

Max Reichelt and Gisela Helling play Don't get angry.

© Barbara Falkenberg

GAP - "All people with intellectual disabilities should feel at home with us," explains Erik Rothe.

The 37-year-old economist manages the three detached residential buildings with their own gardens - Haus im Ficht, Haus Dompfaff and Haus Martinswinkel - which are operated by the Children, Youth and Adults' Aid Association (KJE).

The 37-year-old previously worked in various areas in the Werdenfelser workshops and is “an old hand at KJE”, as he says with a grin.

A total of 64 adult women and men live in the three residential facilities, who work in the Werdenfelser workshops, visit the support center there or are cared for as senior citizens.

"We offer help and targeted support measures so that our residents can organize and cope with their everyday life as far as possible and participate in community life," Rothe explains the basic concept.

Appreciation, recognition and respect are the cornerstones.

They are exemplified by him himself.

When dealing with the disabled people, you can feel how passionately Rothe fulfills his tasks.

He takes a resident by the hand as a matter of course, leads him to his room and warmly asks another disabled lady how she is doing today.

"I love my job and especially the close contact with the residents," says the orthopedic technician from the Ore Mountains, who acquired the necessary know-how for his management position in a three-year training course to become a specialist in social and health care.

He was able to make good use of his technical training, especially in the workshops, but other qualities count for his new position.

In addition to the humanity and warmth of the heart, the organizational talent and the creative streak were certainly also there, which, however, were slowed down quite quickly by Corona.

"Many new ideas had to wait, as an inpatient facility we were particularly affected by the measures relating to the pandemic," says the head of the dormitory.

His approximately 70 employees have done a fantastic job of continuing to look after and care for the residents in the eight groups in the best possible way, strengthening their self-determination and personal responsibility and promoting their personality individually.

Not least because of this, the demand for places in the halls of residence is constantly increasing, and the waiting list is long.

"Because we are the only provider in the district that accommodates people with intellectual disabilities - regardless of whether they suffer from Down syndrome or are severely multiply disabled." From basic care, dressing and undressing, help with washing and Rothe and his team are there for the residents from showering to serving food, accompanying them to work or going for walks, shopping and leisure activities.

The hospice and end-of-life care is also taken on by internally trained employees.

"In this way we can accompany our residents, who are getting older, to the end," says Rothe.

In the past there was only one group of seniors, now there are two, and the trend is rising.

"We have to take this development into account in the future," Rothe knows.

In addition, the basic goal of creating a livable and lovable substitute home for the disabled should be pursued further.

"The residents of our homes are moving out of their homes, just like the young people who are learning to be independent and have to break away from their parents' home," he draws a comparison.

Some come quite early in their mid-20s, others in their late 40s or even later.

As a result, the living groups in all three KJE houses are totally mixed in terms of age and clinical picture.

The guiding principle "For each other, together" is actively lived and implemented here.

All employees and residents as well as their relatives maintain a family atmosphere, they play, go on excursions or celebrate festivals together, such as the tenth anniversary of Haus Martinswinkel in 2019.

The concept of the residential buildings also includes the residents' trip home twice a month.

"We provide our own transport service for this purpose, so that all those who still have relatives in the district can visit them regularly," explains Rothe.

Other activities are welcomed by all.

"This year, for example, we are going to the Passion Play in small groups, but we also regularly go on trips around Lake Staffelsee or take short hikes. The trips are always an absolute highlight, and some of us have just been to Italy in a self-catering house." When asked about the future , Rothe is cautious, for the time being it is important for him and his employees to finally let normality return after more than two years of Corona.