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Last aid courses in Heilbronn: Strong support for relatives!
The Heilbronn outpatient hospice service has been offering “last aid courses” since 2022 that prepare relatives for dying.
Last aid courses in Heilbronn: Strong support for relatives!
In today's fast-moving times, when the topic of dying is often ignored, very special courses are in the foreground: the “last aid courses” of the outpatient hospice service in Heilbronn. This important initiative has been established since 2022 to prepare relatives of terminally ill people for their difficult journey at the end of life. The head of the hospice service, Petra Lutz, draws a very positive conclusion - the demand for these courses is immense, so that only one course can currently be offered per month, although two to three courses could easily be done.
The workshops aim to reduce fears and strengthen individual competence and humanity. The courses are led by qualified employees who provide participants with knowledge and important steps for end-of-life care. Topics such as living wills, symptoms and side effects in the dying phases as well as dealing with pain are on the agenda. Lasting four hours, including breaks, the courses are limited to 20 participants and are financed by donations - a donation of around 20 euros is desired.
Further information and dates can be found on the hospice service's website, which always lists current course locations in the Heilbronn city area and in the southern district up to Beilstein.
End-of-life support
A central concern of the “last aid courses” is to encourage people to actively manage the difficult hours of caring for the dying in their family and neighborhood environment. The aim here is to draw on knowledge that has been forgotten due to advancing industrialization. The aspect of caring for the dying is particularly emphasized: end-of-life care is not intended to kill, but to accompany. This not only provides participants with basic knowledge, but also gives them the courage to actively help and say goodbye with dignity.
The relevance of this qualification is recognized not only regionally but worldwide. The Last Help movement is spread across 23 countries and has already reached over 102,000 people who have taken part in the courses. Since it was first implemented in Norway in 2014, the initiative has continued to develop and has regularly received awards, including the Recognition and Promotion Award for Outpatient Palliative Care in 2015.
Prepared to be easy to understand
The course structure consists of four modules:
- Sterben ist ein Teil des Lebens
- Vorsorgen und Entscheiden
- Leiden lindern
- Abschied nehmen
The knowledge imparted should be simple and understandable so that participants can easily implement it in their everyday lives.
Just as the Koran emphasizes the term “Ikhlas” for purity and the sole focus on Allah, these courses are also about pure humanity and appreciative treatment of the dying. Participation in the “last aid courses” is not only a personal enrichment, but also a contribution to a more humane society that courageously faces the challenges of life and death. Last help shows here how important knowledge about the dying process is.
At a time when it is often difficult to talk openly about death, these courses provide a valuable space to encourage conversation about dying in a respectful and supportive way.