The newly founded hospice in the former nurses' home at the Protestant hospital in Paul-Zipp-Straße is due to open this year. Stadtwerke Giessen (SWG) is supporting the construction and furnishing with a donation of 2,000 euros - the second highlight of the 75 good deeds in SWG's anniversary year.
The former nurses' home at the Evangelical Hospital in Paul-Zipp-Straße is currently being converted into a hospice. When Renate Nagel from Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) heard that the operators were looking for financial support, she was certain: "We should definitely get involved in this project." The assistant to SWG board member Reinhard Paul then suggested a donation as part of the 75 good deeds with which the municipal utilities are helping projects, associations and organisations in the region this year. "I am delighted that all my colleagues and superiors were immediately convinced by the idea. From personal experience in my circle of acquaintances, I know that a hospice offers seriously ill people the right environment they need on the last stage of their journey through life."
A hospice was previously lacking in Giessen
It is precisely for this reason that the Hospiz-Verein Gießen e.V. has been campaigning for many years for the construction of a suitable inpatient facility in the city. Chairman Robert Cachandt emphasises: "Giessen has very good medical care, but it lacks a hospice. We are therefore delighted to have found partners and sponsors with whom we can work together to change this." In 2011, the Giessen Hospice Association, Agaplesion gAG and the Association for Nursing, Elderly and Paediatric Care in Giessen founded Agaplesion Haus Samaria Hospiz gGmbH. Work recently began in the former nurses' home and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.
Among other things, the hospice organisation is paying particular attention to the design of the ten bright single rooms with balconies or terraces. The donation of 2,000 euros from Stadtwerke will also be used to furnish the rooms. Christa Hofmann-Bremer, Managing Director of Agaplesion Haus Samaria Hospiz gGmbH, explains: "Our focus is on the needs of the seriously ill. They should not be alone at the end of their lives and should receive the best possible care and appropriate support - all in a dignified environment that is anything but sterile or uninhabitable."
On Tuesday, 23 April, Renate Nagel presented the cheque for 2,000 euros to Robert Cachandt, Dr Frohild Ringe, Deputy Chairwoman of Hospiz-Verein Gießen e.V., Andreas Kellersmann, Board Member of Hospiz-Verein Gießen e.V., Christa Hofmann-Bremer, Tim Allendörfer, Managing Director of Agaplesion Evangelisches Krankenhaus Mittelhessen gGmbH and Marianne Wander, Chairwoman of the Association for Nursing, Elderly and Children's Care in Giessen e.V. All six expressed their thanks for the commitment and emphasised: "Without supporters and sponsors such as Stadtwerke, it would be many times more difficult to realise our plans for a modern hospice."