Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) visited the Düsseldorf children’s and youth hospice Regenbogenland on Friday (11.15 a.m.). The facility accompanies children, adolescents and young adults who suffer from a life-shortening illness and also supports their families. Parents, siblings and other caregivers can even be included at times. The declared goal of the facility is to support the families in such a way that the remaining time together can be as fulfilling and positive as possible. The institution’s prominent ambassadors include Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner and musician Peter Maffay.
According to figures from the Federal Association of Children’s Hospices, there are around 50,000 children and young people in Germany with life-limiting illnesses. Approximately 5000 children, adolescents and young adults die every year from such a disease. The association has 20 stationary children’s hospices throughout Germany. According to the German Hospice and Palliative Care Association, there are also around 230 outpatient services for children and young people nationwide – some in cooperation with adult services.
On February 10, the German Children’s Hospice Association focuses on the topic with a “Day of Children’s Hospice Work”. The goals are to win people over for volunteer work and financial support and to break the taboo on the subject of death and dying among young people.
