Neuruppin celebrates new palliative care center: a place for hope and life!

Neuruppin celebrates new palliative care center: a place for hope and life!

A new phase of life begins for many in Neuruppin, because the newly opened palliative care center on Wittstocker Allee now offers space for people who are seriously ill and need special support. Inge Rogge, one of the first residents, even overcame the challenge of four strokes at the age of 92. “I didn’t want to give up, I want to remain independent,” she says with a smile and enjoys the view of the city park from her 40 square meter, barrier-free apartment. Her move four weeks ago, combined with the arrival of a large oil painting, represents a new beginning for her, signaling hope for a dignified life in this special situation.

Juliane Schößler, the head of the palliative care center, emphasizes that it is important to offer residents individual living options. “Every person has their own story and needs, and we want to respond to that,” says Schößler. The palliative care center not only pampers you with comfort, but is also well equipped: it has twelve beds in the hospice and eight places in short-term care. The team led by the dedicated health and nursing nurse Sarah Eichelbaum ensures the best possible care for the residents.

Embedded in the community

Embedded in the region, the palliative care center currently looks after around 470 patients and records over 80 new admissions every month. The offer is urgently needed because the demand for palliative care is constantly increasing. As an analysis shows, only around 32.7% of insured people in Germany use palliative care services in the last six months of life, which is well below the estimated need of 78%. There is an urgent need for action because many people encounter hurdles in difficult phases of life that need to be overcome.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the palliative care center was built for four million euros by the Prignitz-Ruppiner Hospice Society and is now an important part of health care in the region. However, Inge Rogge isn't just concerned with her apartment - she has also expressed concerns about the condition of the area's footpaths. These points must be taken into account in further planning.

Future prospects

The future of the palliative care center looks promising. The plan is to renovate a neighboring clinker brick building that will serve as an office building. A meeting center could also be created where patients and relatives can spend time together. However, the time frame for this remains unclear. This means the center will not only be a place for care, but also a future meeting place for the community.

The palliative care center in Neuruppin sets important standards in the care of seriously ill people and creates an environment where dignity and quality of life are maintained even in difficult times. As Schößler aptly puts it: “Every person has the right to a dignified life – and at our center we do everything we can to make this possible.” For more information about the palliative care center and its offerings, visit the website Ruppin Hospice Society.