Volunteers bring hope to Parkinson's patients in Rostock!

Volunteers bring hope to Parkinson's patients in Rostock!

A remarkable initiative has developed in the heart of Rostock to combat loneliness in hospitals. Volunteer helpers bring a little light and hope into patients' everyday hospital life, like this Baltic Sea newspaper reported. The visiting service at Rostock University Medical Center, coordinated by Anne-Sophie Schafmayer, consists of 18 dedicated women who visit patients in three different medical wards every day: general surgery, neurosurgery and geriatrics.

An outstanding example of the positive impact of this initiative is Thomas Ostendorf, 60 years old, who has been struggling with the diagnosis of Parkinson's for seven years. He is currently preparing for deep brain stimulation surgery lasting several hours to improve his mobility. Like many other patients, the telecommunications technician and father of three from Lübz rarely receives visitors due to the long distance and reports on the challenges of his illness, which includes slow movements and difficulty controlling his body. Typical symptoms of Parkinson's disease include not only tremors and stiff muscles, but also emotional changes that can significantly affect quality of life, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The power of the encounter

The visiting service began its work two years ago and offers patients not only simple conversations, but also the fulfillment of small requests, such as sweets or magazines. Ostendorf has found that conversations are sometimes more effective than medication. “Every visit brings something positive and helps to alleviate loneliness,” explains Annette Pelke, who lives in Lübz and has been part of this valuable initiative for a year and a half. She describes her commitment as very enriching, especially since her role allows her to respond directly to the needs of patients.

The volunteers attach great importance to personal encounters, which usually last between ten and twenty minutes, but in some cases up to an hour and a half. It's often the little things that have a big impact: a scent here, a good conversation there - all of this helps to lighten up the sparse everyday hospital life.

A call to participate

Participation in the visiting service is open to anyone interested; no special training is required. The commitment of the helpers represents a relief for the medical staff, who often suffer from time pressure and do not always have the opportunity to intensively care for each individual patient. The voluntary visits not only reduce the burden on staff, but also show solidarity with patients, who are often lonely and scared.

For many, a visit from a volunteer is a ray of hope in difficult times. Such initiatives are becoming increasingly important in our society and are an example of how you can show a good hand for the needs of others. It is not only a service to humanity, but also an opportunity for everyone who feels like they can achieve something and experience joy and fulfillment in the process.