As of: February 20, 2024, 5:00 p.m
By: Franziska Weber
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Co-founder of the Werdenfelser Weg project Dr.
Sebastian Kirsch © private
Dr.
Sebastian Kirsch and Josef Wassermann received the Federal Cross of Merit on February 20th for founding the Werdenfelser Weg.
The project is intended to avoid measures involving deprivation of liberty such as restraining patients as much as possible.
District – It was a specific moment in 2007 that Dr.
Sebastian Kirsch from the Starnberg district and Josef Wassermann from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district led to the Werdenfelser Weg being founded.
Prof. Andrea Berzlanovich, who was still working at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Munich at the time, published sensational research results about the dramatic consequences that can result from mechanical restraints.
For example, people have inflicted serious injuries on themselves through measures that deprive them of their freedom, such as bed rails, or even strangled themselves between the bars - but that is an extreme case.
Measures involving deprivation of liberty can be approved if there is a risk that a mentally ill person being cared for will injure themselves or others.
The Werdenfelser Weg aims to avoid this for people in need of care.
This meant that cases nationwide could be halved.
Kirsch and Wassermann will be awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on February 20th as founders of the project.
The Werdenfelser Weg has now developed into a “trend-setting model that is used in numerous courts throughout Germany,” according to a statement from the Bavarian Ministry of Social Affairs.
Each case should be viewed individually
The name of the project comes from the Werdenfelser Land region (southern part of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district).
Essentially, it's about finding the best nursing or medical solution for a very specific individual case in order to avoid measures involving deprivation of liberty, says Kirsch in an interview with Starnberger Merkur.
They are used, among other things, in retirement homes, hospitals or facilities for the disabled.
“For example, it involves fixation in bed, bed rails or locking doors,” explains Kirsch.
Since 2024, Werdenfelser Weg has also been dedicated to the topic of medical restraint, for example the immobilization of residents.
Kirsch is a family and childcare judge at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district court.
In a sense, he is the legal head of the project.
Co-founder Wassermann is involved, among other things, in training specialists in order to further spread the project.
Kirsch explains: “According to the Basic Law in Germany, a judge must decide whether measures involving deprivation of liberty are taken.
All institutions are bound to this.” For this reason he is appointed as a care judge.
Courts also appoint so-called guardians ad litem for the approval process.
These are a kind of advocate for those affected.
With the Werdenfelser Weg, specialists with nursing experience are used instead of lawyers, for example geriatric nurses, sick nurses or special education nurses, depending on the case and type of facility.
“That was the initial idea of the project.”
The project is having a great impact
The Werdenfelser Weg was a small change that had a big impact, the 59-year-old confirms.
“From around 2010, more and more districts and courts throughout Germany decided to take part.” Since January 2011, around 230 guardianship judges and 40 family judges from all federal states have contacted the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district court and discussed individual questions almost daily.
Nursing has much more imagination than we laypeople can imagine.
Dr.
Sebastian Kirsch on how to avoid restraining people
Dr.
Sebastian Kirsch, co-founder of the Werdenfelser Weg project
The number of measures involving deprivation of liberty in Germany has fallen from around 100,000 to around 50,000 per year.
“Many facilities even report being able to do without restraints completely,” says Kirsch.
“Nursing has much more imagination than we laypeople can imagine.
There are many adjustment screws to avoid fixations.” For example, there are beds that can be lowered almost to floor level, and mattresses lying on the floor could then prevent more serious injuries if a person affected falls out.
The question of whether the Werdenfelser Weg will mean more work for nursing staff due to the shortage of skilled workers is often asked.
No, says Kirsch and reasons: “Deprivation of liberty measures require a relatively high level of monitoring and documentation.”
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“In 2007, Werdenfelser Weg was a relatively small idea,” reports Kirsch.
However, the enthusiasm on the part of the nursing staff and judges has increased since then.
However, there was never any funding or research money, but the effect was astonishing.
Once or twice a year, Kirsch and Wassermann now organize congresses together in Munich – alongside their jobs.
“Everything we do for Werdenfelser Weg essentially takes place in our free time.”
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Starnberg newsletter.
You can find even more current news from the Starnberg district at Merkur.de/Starnberg.