Close to people | Stories from Bethel
Jakob Jakel knows happiness
"Laughing is?" asks Sina Hauke. Jakob Jakel sits opposite her. The 84-year-old thinks for a moment and says: "It's simple: laughter is happiness." The young woman smiles. "Laughter is the best medicine," she resolves. "Oh yes, that works too," agrees the patient. She takes the next proverb card from the pile. Now he knows the answer straight away. Sina Hauke is doing her voluntary social year in a Bethel hospital and enjoys visiting the patient.
Several times a day, carers, gerontologists and volunteers look after Jakob Jakel. This is because he is being looked after in a special programme called "help". The Bethel Hospital was the first in Germany to offer this programme. It is aimed at older people who are at an increased risk of suffering an acute state of confusion - delirium. Since the programme was introduced, significantly fewer patients have developed delirium. Staff always make sure that they have something to drink and the patient's cuff to hand. They go for walks with the patients and provide mental stimulation, for example with a game of "Mensch-ärgere-Dich-nicht" or proverb cards.
"Old love..." is the next phrase Sina Hauke uses. Jakob Jakel pauses for a moment and says in a hushed voice: "You never forget old love." He thinks of his deceased wife. After the last visit to her grave, he was admitted with chest pains. Before he can go home again, he still has to undergo examinations. He doesn't mind, because he feels very well looked after. The visits and pleasant conversations in hospital do him good.
Text: Christina Heitkämper | Photos: Christian Weische
This story simply told
Jakob Jakel was admitted to Bethel Hospital with chest pains. He is being cared for in a special programme that looks after older people. Staff make sure that the patients drink enough and provide mental stimulation. Jakob Jakel feels that he is in good hands.
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Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel (EvKB)
Haus Gilead I
Burgsteig 13
33617 Bielefeld
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The Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel (EvKB) - Universitätsklinikum OWL der Universität Bielefeld (UK OWL) - is a maximum care hospital and one of the most important healthcare facilities in NRW. With a wide range of inpatient, outpatient and day-care services, 170,000 patients a year receive specialised treatment - from infancy to old age. 5,000 employees work at the hospital.
