Close to people | Stories from Bethel
Everything is easier with music
"The sun rises every morning" is one of Erika Radek's favourite songs. Every Thursday, the sun shines particularly brightly for the 82-year-old as she takes part in the sports programme. Anja Riechert-Karadamur from the Bethel Exercise and Sports Therapy Service visits residents of a Bethel retirement home every week to keep them fit with seated gymnastics. Erika Radek always looks forward to this group exercise programme. It is a highlight of her week. She has lived at the Bethel facility for two years. "I used to love doing sport. My favourite things to do were swimming or dancing."
Always up for a joke
Stretching her arms high, clapping her hands or moving her legs back and forth - the lively senior citizen is highly motivated and slowly but diligently imitates what the instructor demonstrates. Three to five movements are repeated in a specific sequence - first without and later synchronised to catchy songs. "Everything is easier with music!" Erika Radek shouts cheerfully as the first notes sound from the music system. She enthusiastically hums and sings along. She sometimes gets the movements wrong. But that doesn't matter, because the fun is the most important thing. Erika Radek likes to joke and keeps the group in a good mood.
"I used to love doing sport. My favourite things to do were swimming or dancing."
Variety in everyday life
The exercise programme combines fitness for body and mind. Anja Riechert-Karadamur takes the residents on an imaginary journey into the forest. They can let their imagination run wild. "What do we see?" she asks the group. "There! A deer!" shouts Erika Radek. The old lady is completely in her element. "The hare has made a leap," she continues happily. "Watch out, there's a tree trunk! We have to lift our legs slightly," motivates the Bethel employee, who provides variety in everyday life with her exercise programme. And so the older women and men trudge through the undergrowth in good spirits and sing the first verse of Erika Radek's favourite song: "Every morning the sun rises..." By next Thursday at the latest, the sun will be shining particularly brightly again as the group sets off on their next fantasy journey. Maybe it will be to the sea. The sunrises are so beautiful there.
Text: Christina Heitkämper | Photos: Reinhard Elbracht
This story simply told
Erika Radek lives in a Bethel retirement home. Once a week, the residents are visited by a member of the Bethel Exercise and Sports Therapy Service. Sitting gymnastics keeps body and mind fit. Erika Radek enjoys the change of pace.
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Contact
Quellenhof retirement home
Quellenhofweg 100 c
33617 Bielefeld
Offers & services
At Quellenhof retirement home in Bielefeld-Bethel, residents spend their twilight years in a small community according to their personal wishes and needs. In addition to nursing, care and provision, the centre also offers day-structuring and occupational therapy services.
