A place of farewell: Balthasar in Olpe offers consolation for families

A place of farewell: Balthasar in Olpe offers consolation for families

In the Balthasar children's and youth hospice in Olpe, a touching reality for families unfolds with incurable diseases in their children. At a place where joy often exists side with grief, these families not only find support, but also a room for saying goodbye to their beloved relatives. On October 12th, on the occasion of the World Hospice Day, the hospice awakens the awareness of the challenges that these affected families have to face.

The hospice offers a unique atmosphere in which families find a contact person from the diagnosis, who accompanies them and prepares for the upcoming challenges. Roland Penz, the facility manager, aptly describes this: "Our guests are confronted with the topics of death and dying at a very young age. For many, these topics are still a big taboo - especially when it comes to children and adolescents." The facility enables families to express and process their pain in a protected frame.

a place of farewell and hope

In the Balthasar children's and youth hospice, the parents and siblings have the opportunity to spend the last few days and hours with their child in a loving environment. In the last phase of life, families can stay in the house for unlimited time and say goodbye to their children in a specially designed farewell area. "Every family has their own pace and their own ideas. In this way they will be accompanied by us," explains Penz.

The support from experienced mourning companions: Inside is a central pillar that helps the relatives to process the loss. These specialists not only offer emotional support, but also help design the farewell, which is of great importance for many families.

A family who is directly familiar with the challenges of hospice life shares their experiences in the short film published on the World Hospice Day. She said goodbye to her twelve -year -old son Paul, who died in 2023. Her return to Olpe, to share memories and give death a space, shows how important this place is for the family. Despite the grief, they remain connected to the hospice and show that even in difficult times it is possible to create a place for life.

The story is carried on by the short film and reaches many people who want to report more about the special circumstances with which families are confronted in such situations. An insight into the challenges and strength that these families show every day is urgently necessary to promote awareness of the need for such hospice. You can find more information in a report on www.sauerlandkurier.de .