Image

Last aid - knowing how to do it in the end

Most people wish to spend their last days of life in the comfort of their own home. This can only succeed if the options for palliative care are known. End-of-life care is not the sole preserve of experts. Everyone can make a contribution in the private sphere to assist seriously ill and dying people.

Last aid courses
Under the motto "Knowing how to do it at the end", last aid courses provide basic knowledge on relevant end-of-life topics. In line with first aid courses, which enable as many people as possible to save lives in emergency situations, last aid courses also aim to reach the general population.

Last aid begins when there is no longer any hope of a cure for a serious illness. When dying is foreseeable, it is no longer a matter of prolonging life at any price; instead, the quality of life of the affected person and his or her relatives is the focus of efforts. Last aid means lovingly accompanying the dying at the end of their lives, alleviating suffering and responding to their needs.
Compact knowledge
The Last Aid course was developed by an international team of experts led by Dr. Georg Bollig. The course imparts concrete knowledge in a compact and generally understandable way, which strengthens one's own confidence in acting. It provides information on regional assistance services and encourages in-depth discussion of the various topics.
The last aid course is held over four hours in an afternoon or evening. The following topics are covered in four modules:

- Dying is a part of life
- Provision and decision-making
- Alleviating physical, psychological, social and existential hardships
- Saying goodbye

Specific content includes the dying process and its aggravations and challenges, relief of distressing symptoms, nutrition and hydration at the end of life, living wills and health care proxies, funeral arrangements, farewell rituals, and grief. (For more information, visit www.letztehilfe.info)

Last aid courses at the ASB outpatient hospice service
The outpatient hospice service of Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Baden-Württemberg e.V. Region Mannheim/Rhein-Neckar (ASB) has been accompanying seriously ill and dying people on their last journey through life since 1997. Volunteers are qualified annually to provide end-of-life care.
The coordinators Christiane Pröllochs and Doris Detering offer last aid courses several times a year. You can find the dates here.
To register or if you have any questions, please call us or send us an e-mail.
Tel. 0621-72 707-320, Mail hospiz@asb-rhein-neckar.de

We look forward to seeing you.