Balthasar children's and youth hospice
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The children and youth Balthasar in Olpe was the first 1998 children's hospice in Germany opened.
history
The initiative to set up a children's hospice in Germany came from affected parents, who joined together in 1990 in the German Children's Hospice Association. The world's first children's hospice, "Helen House" in Oxford, which has existed since 1982, served as a model. The Balthasar children's hospice in Olpe opened on September 18, 1998 as the first in Germany.
The sponsor of the project, which has to be financed mainly from donations, was the non-profit society of the Franciscans in Olpe (GFO). The GFO is support social charitable institutions, in 1902 from the Congregation of the Olpe Franciscan emerged and facilities operated by the children, youth and the elderly as well as several hospitals.
Children's hospice
In the children's hospice Balthasar, families with an incurably and life-shortening illness find a hostel and a second home for a while. The Olper facility can accommodate eight children. Every child has their own room, which is handicapped and child-friendly. Wide doors make it possible to take the children in their care beds into the large lounge or into the garden. There is a music and reading room, a Snoezelen room, an exercise and creative room and offers for the whole family such as visits to clinic clowns , excursions and opportunities to talk.
There are now 15 more inpatient children's hospices nationwide .
Youth hospice
The youth hospice is also the first of its kind in Germany. As an extension of the children's hospice, the hospice opened for teenagers and young adults in January 2009.
Terminally ill young people have different needs and requirements in terms of room facilities, daily routines, offers and psychosocial care. What is special about the youth hospice is the special technology in the rooms, which allows the youths a high degree of freedom despite their restricted mobility. You can control the lights, roller blinds or the volume of the music yourself and without outside help.
Grief work
Especially in the last phase of life and after the death of the child, the Balthasar Children's Hospice is there for families - for as long as they need it. After the child dies, the relatives can use the room of silence in the children's hospice. Its rooms are bright and flooded with light and can be individually designed with photos and memorabilia. Numerous traces remind of the deceased children: a memorial table on every day of death, hand and footprints on a wall in the children's hospice and wind turbines in the garden of the hospice with their names on them.
But the stays after the diagnosis also serve to perform mourning work. Specially trained family companions provide the family with valuable help. Many conversations and exchanges between the parents help to cope with the grief.
Thalita - Child Grief Center
Thalita is a grief center for children between the ages of 7 and 12. In child grief groups, the children are taught that their grief is not an illness and that death is part of life . With the help of the staff at the children's hospice, they learn to understand and accept their feelings.
Balthasar Academy
The Balthasar Academy is offered by the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice in Olpe. For more than 15 years, the academy has primarily offered seminars with nursing and psychosocial content. The seminar program is aimed at a broad target group: People in nursing and social professions as well as those interested can take part in the practical training courses. With participation, advanced training points can be collected for the registration of professional carers.
As the only children's hospice in Germany, the Balthasar children's and youth hospice also offers training to become a grief counselor .
Plain text! Chat room and helpline for young people in grief
plain text! is a counseling service for grieving adolescents and young adults from the Balthasar children's and youth hospice. Since 2010, trained grief counselors have been looking after young people in chat, on the phone or by email, anonymously, confidentially and free of charge on emotions such as grief, despair, pain, fear, but also guilt and anger. Together with the young people, resources are sought that can provide support and strength, helpful rituals are developed and places of remembrance are created.
With klartext! VorOrt there has been a youth mourning group in Olpe since January 2018. In many conversations the wish was expressed again and again to meet other young people with similar experiences of loss personally and to face the grief together in a group. The main focus of the joint meetings is on resources that can give the young people support and strength. The individual needs are taken into account and z. B. worked creatively.
financing
Around 50% of the costs are reimbursed through the health and care insurance funds. However, the stay of the parents and healthy siblings is not covered by the cost bearers and must be financed entirely from donations. Most of the families affected are not able to pay their own contribution. Over 1 million euros in donations are required every year.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Balthasar children's and youth hospice. Retrieved March 23, 2020 .
- ^ Youth Hospice - Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice. Retrieved March 23, 2020 .
- ↑ Farewell area - Balthasar children's and youth hospice. Retrieved March 23, 2020 .
- ^ Thalita Kindertrauerzentrum - Children and Youth Hospice Balthasar. Retrieved March 23, 2020 .
- ^ Academy - Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice. Retrieved March 23, 2020 .
- ↑ Start page - plain text! Sadness. Retrieved March 23, 2020 .
- ↑ clear text! On site - Balthasar children's and youth hospice. Retrieved March 23, 2020 .
Coordinates: 51 ° 1 ′ 10.6 ″ N , 7 ° 50 ′ 50.2 ″ E