Last aid
- Support in the last phase of life for seriously ill and dying people
- Workshop
The death of relatives and friends and the confrontation with the dying of a person often make us feel helpless. The knowledge with which we used to support people in this last phase of life has increasingly been lost in modern industrialized societies. However, assisting the dying is not a “science” – this support can be provided in the family environment and in the neighborhood. The course provides basic knowledge and encourages people to turn to the dying: Gestures of care and closeness are particularly important at the end of life.
The “Last Aid Courses” were developed in 2008 by Georg Bollig, an emergency physician, based on the model of first aid courses: instead of learning measures for injuries, the focus here is on supportive steps for life-limiting illnesses.
Hospiz Louise in Heidelberg’s Weststadt district has been offering last-aid courses since 2019. The hospice team not only accompanies dying people and their relatives, but also brings the topic of death and dying back into the center of society – where it belongs. In the workshop here at the DAI Heidelberg, interested people learn what they can do for loved ones at the end of their lives, as well as how they can say goodbye themselves.
The course lasts four hours and consists of four modules of 45 minutes each. The aim is for participants to feel more confident in dealing with a dying relative or close friend on their final journey. The modules are
- Dying as part of life
- Making provisions and decisions
- Alleviating suffering
- Saying goodbye
The course is led by members of the Louise Hospice in Heidelberg. Frank Schöberl is the director of the hospice and has been working there since 2004. Anne Erpelding has been involved in hospice work on a voluntary basis for 14 years. Both have extensive teaching experience with last aid courses.
Further information about the course: https://www.letztehilfe.info/last-aid/
Information about the hospice: https://hospiz-louise.de/ (only in German)
Registration: jutta.wagner@dai-heidelberg.de
Duration: 4 hours
Language: English
A donation box will be set up for the benefit of Hospiz Louise.
