Becoming visible – Caring relatives are the silent heroes of everyday life – Rhönkanal

Relatives, friends, neighbors – in Thuringia alone, more than 220,000 people provide valuable help to those in need of care every day in the form of home care.

However, these services are still barely visible in public perception and those affected do not receive enough support themselves. The Thuringian Caregiving Week wants to change this and contribute to the public appreciation and support of caregiving relatives with a wide range of events.

Launched by the association “We Care – Advocacy and Self-Help for Caring Relatives in Thuringia”, numerous events by and for caring relatives will take place throughout the Free State from June 3 to 9, 2024.

The action week is intended to create space for encounters and mutual exchange, as well as to enable people to get to know support offers and help for self-help.

The health and self-help promotion department in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district office and the district’s nursing network are also participating in the Thuringian Week for Caring Relatives and had previously asked institutions, associations, companies and self-employed people, as well as private individuals, to register their events and offers.

The program includes lectures, advice and opportunities to exchange experiences. At some events, nursing beds are also available. All of the offers are free of charge to anyone interested.

The program for the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen:

Monday, June 3

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Vhs basic course: “Neighbourhood help in Thuringia”
Speaker: R. Wirthig
Location: Strupp’sche Villa, Room 1.00,
Bernhardstrasse 4, Meiningen

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lecture followed by a discussion: “Fire safety for seniors – what should relatives pay attention to?”
Speakers: I. Kuchar and N. Ritzmann
Location: District Office, Hall/House 3,
Obertshäuser Platz 1, Meiningen
-Nursing bed on site –

6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Self-help group “Friends of Addiction Support”
“Dealing with addiction among those affected and their relatives
including exchange of experiences”
Location: Parish hall of the Protestant Church Frauenbreitungen,
Am Kloster 6, Breitungen

Tuesday, June 4

2 to 3 p.m.
Sports course: “Active exercise for everyone” – fun in sports with stretching and mobilization
Course leader: L. Möller
Location: Community room,
Schulstrasse 33, Steinbach-Hallenberg / OT Rotterode

Wednesday, June 5

10 a.m. to about 12.30 p.m.
Advisory service: “Nursing bed on tour: Information on the nursing network and the nursing support point
of the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen“
Local contact person: C. Herchenhahn
Location: Mehliser Markt, Zella-Mehlis
-Nursing bed on site-

Thursday, June 6

2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Lecture: “Social benefits in nursing”
Speakers: S. Bastubbe, T. Weisheit and C. Herchenhahn
Location: District Office, Hall/House 3,
Obertshäuser Platz 1, Meiningen

17 o’clock
Lecture: “The care center introduces itself – advice offered by the care center on all aspects of care.”
Speaker: C. Herchenhahn
Location: Heimathof,
Hauptstrasse 45, Steinbach-Hallenberg

Counselling services offered by Lebenshilfe Südthüringen eV:

DAILY, Monday to Friday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Consulting services:
“Nursing consultation including measurement of blood pressure, blood sugar and oxygen saturation”

Mo.: Nursing service office
Neu-Ulmer-Strasse 43, Meiningen
Advisor: J. Röder

Tues.: Nursing office
Friedrich-König-Strasse 6, Suhl
Advisor: C. Schleusinger
Wheelchair accessible

Wed: Nursing service office
Hammergasse 9b, Steinbach-Hallenberg
Advisor: S. Gabriel

Thurs: Nursing home
Rudolf-Harbig-Straße 2, Obermaßfeld-Grimmenthal
Advisor: S. Leffler
Wheelchair accessible

Fr.: Nursing home community
Meininger Strasse 42, Zella-Mehlis
Advisor: C. Weißwange
Wheelchair accessible

Additional dates:

Saturday, June 1

3 to 4 p.m.
Lecture:
“Home care for dementia – When care becomes a burden! What is in the
Is home care affordable? What alternative forms of care are available in the region?”
Speaker: Dr. med. B. Iwig
Location: Dementia Center Meiningen
Dr. Romberg-Str. 2, Meiningen

Tuesday, June 18

3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Lecture: “Biography work: How we have lived, how we age.” – Dealing with people suffering from dementia
Speaker: A. Schollmeyer
Location: Ev. Church District Office,
Weidebrunner Tor 7, Schmalkalden

Registrations are possible on the district office’s homepage at www.lra-sm.de/twpa or by telephone via an answering machine, which can be reached at 03693/485-8740.

Further events as part of the Thuringian Caregiving Week can be found at www.wir-pflegen-thueringen.de.

Organizers for Mental Health Week and Thuringian Health Week sought

The health and care department of the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district office is also participating in two further thematic action weeks this year.

For this purpose, institutions, associations, companies and self-employed persons as well as private individuals are still sought,
who would like to enrich the action weeks with topic-related contributions.

Mental Health Week (10-20 October 2024):

The Germany-wide campaign week runs under the motto “Psyche & Work”. The aim is to show citizens opportunities to overcome everyday challenges and to learn about the psychosocial support services available.

Readings, open days, lectures, podcasts, open consultation hours, courses or film screenings, for example, are held nationwide with the aim of promoting mental health in a variety of ways and highlighting its importance.

In southwest Thuringia, too, offers relating to relaxation, mindfulness, nature and other self-care topics are sought. Formats for exchange between those affected and/or experts are also desirable.

The deadline for registering events for Mental Health Week is July 31, 2024.

Thuringian Health Week (15 to 22 November 2024):

The health week, which takes place throughout Thuringia, focuses on the holistic view of health (physical, mental, social and spiritual). Existing courses, information events or corresponding alternatives in the areas of exercise, nutrition or psychosocial health are particularly interesting.

General topics such as climate/environment, self-care, community activities, working life or the living environment can also be taken into account. The aim of the contributions is to increase the health awareness of the participants in order to improve their quality of life.

The registration deadline for event offers for the Thuringian Health Week is also July 31, 2024.

Submit offers now

To ensure a uniform application, a communication form is available in printed form or at www.umfrageonline.com.

The questions should be filled out as completely as possible in order to be able to advertise the offers in line with the respective promotional weeks.
Those interested can find more detailed information about both action weeks on the website of the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district office at www.lra-sm.de.

Nicole Ritzmann (telephone: 03693/485-8701; e-mail: [email protected]) and Rebekka Frieß (telephone: 03693/485-8768; e-mail: [email protected]) can also provide information.