At the start of the 11th Hospice Days in the Saarpfalz district, organised by the Saarpfalz Ecumenical Outpatient Hospice and Palliative Advice Service together with the Saarpfalz Hospice and Palliative Network, paediatrician and palliative care specialist Prof. Dr Sven Gottschling gave an impressive lecture entitled "Pain, fear and loneliness at the end of life - what can we do about it?". The event was held under the patronage of District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo and recently took place at the Homburg Forum.
Gabriele John-Neumann, coordinator of the hospice service, welcomed the speaker and the numerous guests, including Markus Schaller, First District Councillor of the Saarpfalz district, and Barbara Aßmann, Diocesan Caritas Director in the Diocese of Speyer, who both gave a welcoming address, as well as Pastor Albrecht Bähr, Regional Pastor for Diaconia, who was on site alongside Barbara Aßmann as a representative of the hospice service.
Markus Schaller conveyed the greetings of District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo on his behalf and said: "The topic of this evening moves us all and will affect us all in one way or another - whether we like it or not." He left no doubt that the other events will also provide effective insights for individuals and the community.
In her speech, Barbra Aßmann emphasised a further significance. By paying special attention to the topic of hospice and palliative work during these days, the work of the highly motivated volunteer and full-time hospice carers is also put centre stage. "Because hospice work thrives on cooperation - between full-time and voluntary staff," emphasised Barbara Aßmann.
Prof Dr Sven Gottschling then went into the three aspects of pain, fear and loneliness at the end of life in a concise and understandable manner - partly from a scientific perspective, then drawing on his wealth of experience. He captivated the audience of more than 100. He managed the balancing act of outlining the very serious facts in a subtle, sometimes humorous way. In doing so, the speaker did not allow any emotional exuberance in the audience - either in one direction or the other. The lecture ended with a speech bubble picture of Charly Brown and Snoopy, the comic characters from "Peanuts", sitting next to each other on a jetty by a body of water. Charly Brown: "One day we're all going to die, Snoopy!". Snoopy: "Yes, that's true, but not on any other day."
Zara Weiskircher and Alexander Arimond gave the opening event an appropriate, dignified setting with their performance of four hand-picked pieces of music ("Down by the sally gardens", "The Rose", "The way I am", "Forever young"). After an extensive question and answer session, visitors were able to find further inspiration at the book table set up by hospice volunteer Irene Scheike.
District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo: "I would like to thank everyone who has taken on the organisation of the 11th Hospice Days in the Saarpfalz district. These days are extremely valuable, as we should not close our minds to the topics that we will encounter in the community and also personally at the end of life. The approach can be very different, as the series of events in the Saarpfalz district shows. I am grateful for the work of our hospice and palliative care network, which brings together health and social care organisations and pastoral care services and is committed to providing hospice and palliative care for seriously ill and dying people and their families. But also for the commitment of all the volunteers who offer their help in an environment that is not characterised by joy and fun. But they can bring many joyful moments to sick people and their families. That is a gift that is invaluable."
World Hospice Day, which is celebrated on 19 October, has the motto "Hospice for Diversity" this year. After all, the hospice movement has stood for solidarity and diversity since its beginnings in the 1980s. Further information on World Hospice Day is also available from the German Hospice and Palliative Association (Deutscher Hospiz- und Palliativ-Verband e. V.) at www.dhpv.de/aktuelles_welthospiztag.html
Further events as part of the 11th Hospice Days in the Saarpfalz district
The Kinowerkstatt St. Ingbert, Pfarrgasse 49, will be showing the film "Birnenkuchen mit Lavendel" on Friday, 11 October at 7 pm. Admission costs four euros.
On Saturday, 12 October, there will be a number of information stands around the Caritas Centre meeting place in St. Ingbert to mark World Hospice Day. The St Jakobus hospice, the Ecumenical Outpatient Hospice Service, the Saarpfalz Hospice Association and several care homes from the region will be taking part.
On Tuesday, 15 October, city guide Andreas Schröder will be offering a somewhat different tour of the city with a focus on "Things worth living in St. Ingbert". The meeting point is at 2 pm in the Caritas Centre. For registration and further information, please call (06841) 9728613 or email [email protected].
The Homburg women's cabaret is also taking part and will be performing "Treffer in der Nachspielzeit" on Thursday, 17 October at 7 pm in the St. Ingbert town hall. Tickets are available from the Weltladen St. Ingbert, Kaiserstraße 20.
An ecumenical service will conclude the Hospice Days on Friday, 18 October at 5 pm in the Catholic Church of St. Engelbert in St. Ingbert.