Social robot & cosy chair: Waldeckische Landesstiftung supports care
The Waldeckische Landesstiftung has set itself the task of supporting elderly people in need who live in the area of the former district of Waldeck. In previous years, funding was mainly paid out on the basis of applications or proposals from social welfare offices, but since 2024 the foundation has been breaking new ground. "We want to take better account of the needs of our senior citizens in a changing society," explains District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst, who manages the foundation. In doing so, the foundation relies on clever ideas from those who deal intensively and competently with these needs, for example retirement homes or other care facilities.
A small competition was therefore organised last year by the Waldeck Domanial Administration to distribute the foundation's funds: Retirement homes had the opportunity to apply for the funding with a "great idea for the residents in need of care". "It is a great pleasure for me to be able to enable the four facilities, which submitted really great proposals, to implement their ideas through our foundation grant," said the District Administrator at the presentation of the grant cheques totalling over 42,000 euros.
One beneficiary of the funding is the municipal centre for care and support "Haus am Nordwall" gGmbH in Korbach; the facility can now purchase a social robot to interact with residents. The AI-based unit with the production name "Navel" has been met with great enthusiasm in care facilities, as evidenced by a few quotes from older residents: "You can have a really good chat with it" or "Navel creates a good atmosphere here."
Secondly, DIAKO Waldeck-Frankenberg gGmbH is receiving financial support for three of its elderly care facilities. A "Cosy Chair", a comfortable and safe care and reclining chair for the mobility of lying residents, is to be purchased for the Schwester Lisa Bergmann-Haus in Adorf and the Helenenheim Bad Arolsen. The Flechtdorf state hospital will receive more powerful blinds to improve the shading of the rooms in the summer months. The climate change with an increasing number of hot summer days can no longer be absorbed by the existing 20-year-old shading systems.
"The Waldeckische Landesstiftung fully fulfils its responsibility towards our region and the people who live here," said Korbach's mayor Klaus Friedrich, praising the donor and thanking the foundation for its willingness to engage with the applicants' ideas. The two managing directors of DIAKO Waldeck-Frankenberg, Pastor Oswald Beuthert and Stefan Kiefer, joined in the thanks.
The three representatives of the beneficiaries emphasised that the focus is always on people, both in the foundation's objectives and in the retirement and care facilities. Under the mottos "Happiness knows no age" of the "Haus am Nordwall" and "Being human together" of the DIAKO, great importance is attached to creating a homely, liveable environment for the senior citizens.
However, the budget is rarely sufficient for aids such as the social robot or the "Cosy Chair". This makes the support from the Waldeckische Landesstiftung all the more appreciated. It helps to activate and motivate the residents of the facilities even more, to create an even greater sense of well-being and ultimately to contribute to improving their state of health. The new aids would also relieve the burden on staff, who would then be able to focus more intensively on creating a humane and pleasant atmosphere in the care home. A win-win situation for everyone involved.