Lüneburg's dying companion: give life until the last breath!

Lüneburg's dying companion: give life until the last breath!

In Lüneburg, the outpatient hospice service is intensively involved in supporting people in the last phase of their lives. Under the motto “We can't give more days to life, but we can give more life to days,” the work here not only inspires the freelance volunteers, but also offers loving support to those affected. The key message from British palliative care pioneer Cicely Saunders offers a significant perspective on palliative care.

As society ages, it becomes more and more important to address the issue of dying and grief. Jeannette Suchan and Josephine-Rahel Furkert are among the association's 80 active volunteers who support patients at home, in a nursing home or in the hospital, regardless of their ideology or nationality. “Death is part of life,” emphasizes Heike Jost, course leader and coordinator, and encourages people to open up to these thoughts.

A chance meeting in the palliative care ward

The personal connection to end-of-life care can often be traced back to one's own experiences of loss. This is how Jeanette Suchan describes a moving encounter in the palliative care ward: “I met an old acquaintance who was now in the last phase of her life.” This highlights the unique experiences that volunteers themselves often go through while being close to their clients.

This intense time, in which they shared memories and laughed together, was a profound experience for Suchan. “Experiencing your own pain and being able to accept this sadness is a central part of our work,” she says. Related to this is the lesson that joy and sadness often go hand in hand.

Inner preparedness is a basic requirement

In order to work as an end-of-life companion, certain personal qualities are required. This includes psychological stability and the willingness for self-reflection and personal development. “The training not only helps you recognize your own limits, but also shows how important it is to maintain an emotional distance in difficult moments,” explains Claudia Arend, coordinator of end-of-life care.

After nine years of training, the participants learn how they can really help those affected. “Anyone who takes part in the training has the chance to find out a lot about themselves,” says Josephine-Rahel Furkert with conviction. Their experiences show that reflection and dealing with grief are seen as an essential part of the training.

World Hospice Day is also celebrated on October 12th, which provides an opportunity to provide information about the different types of hospice work and palliative care. There are numerous campaigns nationwide that are intended to draw attention to the valuable work of hospice services. The importance of the end-of-life care service is also highlighted in Lüneburg.