Children's Palliative Care Center Datteln

The Datteln Children's Palliative Care Center cares for children with extremely chronic and life-limiting illnesses

The Lichtblicke ward at the children's palliative care center in Datteln has eight rooms. Eight rooms that give families a temporary home. Here, not only the children with the most serious chronic illnesses receive help, but also their families

Colorful paint on the walls, everything flooded with light (even the operating area), a pleasant lemon scent in the air, no beeping of any devices to be heard: "We want the young patients and their families to feel comfortable here, just without that hospital feeling," says Nicole Sasse, branch manager of the Freundeskreis Kinderpalliativzentrum Datteln e.V. (Datteln Children's Palliative Care Center Friends' Association). The Lüdinghausen native and her colleagues are responsible for public relations and collect donations for the facility.

Easing suffering, shaping life: "Joy and happiness, that's also what we're all about," says Communications Manager Meike Haberstock, who also lives in Lüdinghausen. "To see what the patient can do and to promote precisely these strengths and create moments worth living." Palliative care alleviates the children's suffering so that they can live as free as possible from symptoms such as pain, restlessness or shortness of breath. In addition, a psychosocial team offers occupational therapy, art and music therapy or animal-assisted therapy. There is a relaxation room, a sensory garden and an aquarium. Clinic clowns come by and provide entertainment.

"Our young patients are often unable to walk, have limited mobility and cannot speak. Treatment is therefore difficult. Some require surgery. Specialists are needed," continues Haberstock. "With the new light port on the upper floor, a surgical area has been created that makes precisely this treatment much easier. The specialists from other clinics come to us and operate here on site. This saves the children and their families stressful transportation to other hospitals."

Many care services at the children's palliative care center are not covered by health insurance. "As our aim is to provide the best possible care for patients, we are dependent on donations in the long term," explains Sasse. "Many private individuals support us, as do associations and companies. "Anyone who would like to visit the children's palliative care center is very welcome."

The patients at the Children's Palliative Care Center come from all over Germany. Since it was founded in 2010, over 700 children and their families have already received care here. Patients usually come in acute crises or when medication needs to be adjusted, but they can stay indefinitely. The aim is for them to go home, live in their familiar surroundings and eventually die there. Because: "All patients here have life-limiting illnesses," says Haberstock. "Hardly anyone reaches the age of 30."

It is important for the staff at the children's palliative care center to focus on the whole family. "Because all family members suffer greatly from the situation," emphasizes Sasse. For example, there is the SisBroJekt: this is all about the siblings, who often fall behind in the stressful everyday life. For them, there are excursions, activities, workshops and, above all, exchanges with people who are also affected. "Very valuable for the families." Nadine Wenge

For any questions about the Children's Palliative Care Center, please contact Nicole Sasse, Head of the Datteln Children's Palliative Care Center Friends Association
. Phone 02363 975795, freundeskreis@kinderpalliativzentrum.de