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Wartenberg: This is how the Patients' Circle of Friends sweetens everyday hospital life

2022-12-31T11:16:32.119Z


The commitment of the Friends of the Wartenberg Clinic starts where basic medical care ends. The "sweets" that are made available to patients on the palliative care ward are particularly touching. Our readers' aid organization supports the association.


The commitment of the Friends of the Wartenberg Clinic starts where basic medical care ends.

The "sweets" that are made available to patients on the palliative care ward are particularly touching.

Our readers' aid organization supports the association.

Wartenberg – pillows, snuggly blankets, concerts, “magic tables” for people with dementia – and maybe virtual reality glasses soon too: the circle of friends of the Wartenberg Clinic, which is celebrating its tenth birthday this year, has already made many purchases during its existence , which sweeten the patient's everyday life in the clinic.

Or, if an incurable disease has been diagnosed, at least make the last steps of life a little easier.

According to those responsible, they are "treats" that go beyond basic medical care.

This association's commitment is supported by the readers' aid organization of our newspaper, "Licht in die Herzen".

The Circle of Friends is in dire need of donations.

The Wartenberg Clinic is a healthcare company and as such provides everything that is necessary for patient care.

The circle of friends takes care of further offers, just mentioned sweets.

“After a stay at the clinic, many patients and relatives wanted to say thank you for the care with a donation.

However, since this is run privately, it cannot issue donation receipts.

So we founded a support association in 2013,” reports Chairwoman Stephanie Weltrich-Streit about the beginnings.

The work of the circle of friends is important not least on the palliative care ward.

“For those affected and their relatives, the diagnosis of a fatal illness is a severe blow of fate that turns their entire lives upside down.

The patients and their relatives are optimally cared for on the ward – both medically and humanely,” says Irene Hilf, Secretary of the Friends.

This allows patients to concentrate on what is important: saying goodbye.

One of the many beautiful, just human gestures: When admitted, each patient receives a personal, self-sewn pillow in the shape of a heart or butterfly.

“This can simply be used for cuddling, but due to its special shape it is also suitable for supporting certain parts of the patient's body.

In this way, it provides relief, because the vast majority of patients lie down a lot due to their illness,” explains Hilf.

The pillows are sewn free of charge by a clinic employee.

The circle of friends bears the material costs, for example for fabric and filling material, and employees also donate fabric from time to time.

In addition to the regular members, the association has a good dozen sponsoring members who generously support it annually with a freely selectable amount.

Members include clinic staff and local residents.

Or people like Weltrich-Streit, who as a pharmacist has a special connection to the local health care system.

The income of the circle of friends, which consists of membership fees and donations, is used to fund the special forms of therapy such as music, aroma and animal-assisted therapy for the patients in the clinic, not just those in the palliative care ward.

"Large investments are made in close cooperation with the clinic, because the employees on site know best what is needed and what is most beneficial," explains Hilf.

This is how they came up with the idea of ​​purchasing two virtual reality glasses from the company Magic Horizons from Neufahrn (Freising district), with which patients can immerse themselves in another world.

"Depending on the program selected, this can have a calming, relaxing or stimulating effect by encouraging the patient to move."

“What we particularly like about this project – in addition to the positive effects for the patients – is that the glasses are manufactured and delivered by a company nearby.

It is important to us to support the local economy with our investments whenever possible," says Chairwoman Weltrich-Streit.

As reported, investments have already been made several times in new types of equipment such as the so-called Tovertafel, a kind of magic table that is particularly helpful in the treatment of dementia patients.

A projector hangs from the ceiling, allowing games to be played on a table below.

The circle of friends - here recently slowed down by the pandemic - has already organized information events for the citizens, such as the first Wartenberg senior citizens' day on the subject of the need for care or a day on mourning and death.

The Sunday afternoon concerts have been a highlight for many years.

Lectures in cooperation with the media center or performances by musicians and comedians are also popular.

“This is the highlight of the week for many patients.

You can just let yourself be sprinkled and have a bit of distraction," says Hilf.

Keyboards, snuggly blankets, mobile massage chairs, books or clocks for the patients' rooms - the Circle of Friends has already made all of this possible.

There is still much more to come, but donations are needed for this.

Light in the hearts:

The readers' aid organization of the Erdinger/Dorfener Anzeiger supports people in need through no fault of their own in the district and the work of the Friends of the Wartenberg Clinic.

Donations can be made to the account (number 17 111) at Sparkasse Erding.

Account holder: Zeitungsverlag Oberbayern.

IBAN: DE54 7005 1995 0000 0171 11 – donation receipts will be issued on request.

Please note this with your address on the transfer slip.

The names of the donors will be published.

If you do not want this, please also note it on the transfer.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-12-31

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