New self-help group in Miehlen: Support for caring relatives!

New self-help group in Miehlen: Support for caring relatives!

A new self-help group was founded in the Nastätten community that is aimed at caring relatives. This group is intended to provide support to those who provide the challenging care of loved ones on a daily basis. The information meeting on this important topic took place in the community center in Miehlen in the Rhein-Lahn district and attracted around 80 participants. Various organizations, including the hospice association, the dementia network and the German Red Cross (DRK), were represented with information stands to provide information about their offerings. So reported SWR about the event.

Sylvia Wawrzinski-Schmidt from the Westerburg Nursing Self-Help Contact Office was present at the event and addressed the caring relatives with important advice. These are often under enormous pressure; In Rhineland-Palatinate, around 200,000 people are cared for at home, as the Westerwald Contact and Information Center for Self-Help (WeKISS) states. Wawrzinski-Schmidt emphasized the importance of self-care and support for family caregivers who are often pushed to their limits.

Self-help as important support

The newly founded self-help group in Nastätten will meet for the first time on June 13th in the Georg Brandt House at 3 p.m. At these meetings, caring relatives should find emotional support and exchange on an equal level. Many carers struggle not only with the physical strain, but also with emotional challenges and bureaucratic hurdles. For example, Annelie Wintergerst is a participant who cares for her husband with care level four. She emphasizes how important the self-help group is for her, especially in terms of emotional support and support with bureaucratic issues.

A look at the experiences of other members shows the importance of such groups: Christine Waschenbach, who looks after her parents, uses the self-help group not only for advice, but also for the exchange of practical tips and experiences. Ulla Laux, who founded the self-help group “Don’t forget me…” in Lahnstein, would like to talk to others about the challenges and stresses of dementia.

Appreciation and recognition for caring relatives

Caring for someone in need of care can easily become a 24-hour task. Many carers often feel helpless, desperate and exhausted. Everyday demands can lead to excessive demands, which can be alleviated by regular participation in self-help groups or discussion groups. These not only offer the opportunity to address problems, but also to find common solutions and receive support.

Those interested have the opportunity to take part in the monthly discussion group for caring relatives, which takes place every first Wednesday of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Protestant elderly care center Ida Becker Haus in Traben-Trarbach. Participation is free of charge and care is available for relatives during the meetings. In addition, speakers are regularly invited on selected topics. Information about this can be obtained from Sabine Herfen on 0 65 71 – 9 55 79 40 or by email sabine.herfen@pflegestuetzspitzen-rlp.de.

These initiatives reflect the growing recognition and appreciation shown to family caregivers. The importance of support and community in this often stressful role cannot be overstated, and the new support groups provide an important platform for this.