Visiting Service
A visiting service or visitor service is a service that has the task of visiting a person or group of mostly needy , socially disadvantaged , or lonely people or animals in need of examination. These usually take place in voluntary work (for example by churches and parishes), as well as by medical, therapeutic , social , spiritual , educational or nursing staff. Visitor services can take place in private households, social institutions, hospitals and clinics, old people's / handicapped / children's / refugee homes, educational systems, churches or other countries.
Reasons for visiting services
- Keeping company and limiting loneliness ; Engage in activities and activities together, paying attention, and providing entertainment and / or conversation
- Offer advice and assistance or pass on knowledge
- Giving gifts or providing items such as food, blankets, etc.
- Accompany, support and / or relieve everyday tasks such as visiting, shopping and other errands
- Proselytizing and promoting something
- Pastoral care (encouragement, comfort, listening, etc.)
- medical and / or therapeutic examinations
- Bring people together
Examples of people visited
- People with physical problems that restrict participation in social life and the ability to leave the home
- People with psychological, intellectual and / or social problems that restrict participation in social life and leaving the house or who run the risk of harming themselves or others
- People who are threatened with existence, such as B. Homeless
- People with illnesses or disabilities
- excluded people z. B. stigmatized or deprived of liberty
- People with financial problems that restrict participation in social life and leaving the home
- Children and young people who should be supported in their development
- Seniors struggling with physical, mental and social problems of old age
- Patients undergoing therapeutic or medical treatment
- People struggling with problems in developing countries ( development aid ) and refugees
- Help and support for people with a migration background and / or communication problems
literature
- Jean O. Gibson: Visiting Service - The Forgotten Opportunity? Christian Media Service, Hünfeld 2008, ISBN 978-3-939833-17-8 .
- Cornelia Rappe, Christoph Robrecht (Ed.): I want to visit you! The little book for the voluntary visiting service in hospitals and old people's homes . Bonifatius, Paderborn 2015, ISBN 978-3-89710-618-5 .
- Dorothee Peglau (Hrsg.): Handbook Visiting Service: Tips, Workshops, Church Services . Luther-Verlag, Bielefeld 2010, ISBN 978-3-7858-0578-7 .
- Ralf Dziewas: Stay by my side: A guide for visiting old and sick people . 2nd Edition. SCM R. Brockhaus, Witten 2009, ISBN 978-3-417-20599-2 .