Petra Pellini reads: Emotional masterpiece about dementia and hope

Petra Pellini reads: Emotional masterpiece about dementia and hope

On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, a reading by Petra Pellini will take place in the Bildungshaus Osttirol. At 7 p.m., the author will present her latest book "The Lifeguard Without Heaven", which became a bestseller shortly after his publication. The tickets for the event are available in Tyrolia Lienz, the admission price is 16 euros, and 14 euros if there is a Tyrolia advantage. Registration at lienz@tyrolia.at is recommended because a musical framework by Stephanie Rauter can be expected on the harp.

Petra Pellini was born in Vorarlberg in 1970 and lives in Bregenz today. Before her literary career, she worked as a nurse and brought valuable experience from the care of people with dementia. In her novel she deals with a touching topic: the relationship between a 15-year-old protagonist named Linda, who thinks of suicide, and Hubert, an 86-year-old lifeguard in retirement who suffers from dementia. Linda is prevented from doing something by the two men in her life, her friend Kevin and Hubert.

The content of the book

Linda spends time with Hubert three times a week to relieve the Polish nurse Ewa. While she tries to support Hubert in his progressive dementia, her hopes for reality collide through her plans as fate strokes, which underlines the emotional roller coaster ride of the novel. Critician Christine Westermann describes the book as bright and bright, despite the treated dark topic. On 317 pages, Pellini tells of the big and small dramas of life, which both touch and voice.

In her work, the author not only addresses the loss of memories, but also the effects of dementia on the life of those affected and their relatives. Based on reality, Pellini supports the understanding of the challenges that people with dementia face and involves the suicide prevention in the context of its narrative. In Germany, around 9,000 people are committed to life annually, with suicide rates in particular increase significantly in older people. Men are affected more often than women.

The importance of suicide prevention

The challenges that those affected and their relatives face are often enormous. Physical, mental and social stress in old age as well as the associated memory impairments can lead to suicidal thoughts. The importance of suicide prevention and therapeutic offers for people with dementia becomes particularly clear. Prof. Dr. Arno Drinkmann is a spokesman for the “Old People” working group in the national suicide prevention program for Germany (Naspro) and deals intensively with this topic. An upcoming webinar will explicitly deal with suicidality in people with dementia and possible prevention measures.

"The lifeguard without heaven" is a book that addresses both the challenges of aging and the complex relationships in the context of dementia. It is aimed at readers who are looking for a sensitive and thoughtful story. The book comprises 320 pages and was published by Rowohlt Kindler. The ISBN is 978-3-463-00068-8 and the price is 23 euros. This emotional journey, which Petra Pellini creates with her work, gives hope and despair side by side and stimulates thinking.