Happy Easter!
The Easter bunny has many hard-working helpers again this year. For example, the children from the Venusberg/Ippendorf Catholic Kindergarten made colorful egg pendants, which now decorate the Easter bush in the ballroom of Haus Elisabeth.
The generous donation from the Venusberg Community Foundation was once again used to decorate the house with flowers. Cut flowers and flower pots now bring color in and around the house.
We would like to thank all of the Easter Bunny's helpers and wish them happy holidays.
The good intentions
What about your New Year's resolutions? Are you still keeping them?
For example, with a little more sport and exercise?
The right equipment is now available at Haus Elisabeth. The Alzheimer-Gesellschaft Bonn/Rhein-Sieg e.V. and the Geriatrics Working Group have provided the residents with an exercise bench. This equipment can be used to do various exercises to improve mobility; and of course you can also just sit on it and chat...
Let's go!
"Colorful and tolerant, that's how we are in Jeckenland"
This was the motto with which Bonn's children's prince Lucas I and the children's bonna Mia-Lani I greeted the senior citizens at Haus Elisabeth. They came to Haus Elisabeth on Saturday afternoon accompanied by the Bonn City Soldiers' Cadet Corps and the board of the Bonn City Soldiers' Association for Senior Citizens and Youth Welfare.
They sang, swayed and wibbled! Siggi Klein had set the mood with carnival tunes and accompanied the speeches and performances with the appropriate tusks. The atmosphere was great.
We would like to thank the Bonn City Soldiers and the children's prince and princess and wish all the carnival revellers a great session!
Haus Elisabeth - Alaaf!
Would you like to read something? In the archive you will find all past articles of the Senior News:
Archive vintage 2024
Advent spirit at Haus Elisabeth
Just in time for the first Advent, the parents of the children from the St. Barbara Kita worked together to make Advent arrangements for the residents of Elisabeth House. It was a pleasure for the staff to distribute the arrangements. Now it's not just the communal rooms that have a Christmassy glow; the ladies' and gentlemen's rooms are also cozy and Christmassy. Many thanks to all the creative people!
And what would the Advent and Christmas season be without sweet delicacies? They would only be half as nice! Thanks to the generous donation from the Dr. Axe Foundation, the colorful plates in the residents' rooms are filled with delicacies, as they have been in previous years. Thank you very much and bon appétit!
A celebration for St. Elisabeth of Thuringia
On November 19, 2024, the residents of Elisabeth House celebrated the name day (and also the day of the funeral) of the princess and landgravine, Elisabeth of Thuringia, who was born on July 7, 1207. After an arranged marriage, widowhood and renouncing another marriage, she died at the age of 24 on November 17, 1231. She dedicated her life to helping the poor and sick, not always to the benefit of her family (source: Wikipedia).
After a Catholic mass was held in the morning in the home's own chapel, the senior citizens met in the afternoon for coffee and cake in the home's meeting room. Here, Father Edmund Jäckel, a member of the board of the Venusberg Community Foundation, spoke once again about her life and in particular about the legend of the miracle of the roses. Many thanks to the Bürgerstiftung Venusberg, the other board members Prof. Dr. Peter Hornung and Brother Johannes Boßmann, who supported the celebrations with a generous donation. The residents were presented with a tied rose in memory of St. Elisabeth.
The feast day ended with a communal song and will be celebrated again next year.
Monsters, planets, rockets....
... and all of this in the form of lanterns was brought by the children of the St. Barbara KITA to the Martinssingen at Haus Elisabeth on Wednesday, November 13. The lantern procession made its way through the floors, singing for and with the residents. And everyone was able to sing along! The traditional songs, which have been sung by generations of residents of the old people's home, are still practiced in the kindergartens today. The highlight was the play of the St. Martin's story, accompanied by the St. Martin's song. Afterwards, there were sandwiches and hot chocolate for refreshment. And of course a small "Schnörz package".
Thank you, dear lantern children!
"D'r hellije Zinter Mätes, dat wor ne jode Mann."
The children from "Silvia's Musikgarten" were also able to sing this well-known St. Martin's song during their visit to Haus Elisabeth. And the senior citizens anyway!
It was one of a total of eight songs that the children's group sang for and with the residents in the home's meeting room on Monday.
The afternoon began with autumnal texts, dances and songs. The children moved around the room to the music, while the ladies and gentlemen in the circle of chairs around them accompanied the action with colorful scarves. It was just as colorful and lively in the room as it was outside in front of the windows in the Kottenforst.
Then we continued with the theme of "St. Martin". Each child had brought their own lantern, which the residents marveled at and admired. The St. Martin songs were sung together - by heart! A point of honor!
This afternoon was a successful premiere - old and young united by local traditions, and music (and movement) as a unifying element.
Ms. Walker is a certified Musikgarten teacher and has a Master's degree in musicology. She offers courses for children of different age groups (with and without parents) and works in day care centers and KITAs.
We would like to express our sincere thanks for this afternoon - also to the parents who actively supported us.
We are looking forward to further joint activities; the planning is in full swing!
All the best, Haus Elisabeth!
On August 30, 2024, the "ceiling party" was celebrated at the new building of Haus Elisabeth. For all those who like to learn something new: a ceiling party is celebrated on a building shell that will have a flat roof after completion. Unfortunately, we didn't have festive weather, but we were in a festive mood. The builders, the invited guests and the residents of Haus Elisabeth braved the damp and toasted the success of the new building project with an entertaining program and a hearty barbecue buffet.
And here's another clue to solve the riddle from the last article:
Do you know the country flags? The construction workers came from these countries. And the flags, made by the residents in the creative workshop, adorned the balconies of the old house.
Have fun guessing (you can google it)!
Major events cast their shadows ahead.....
In August, the "creative workshop" at Haus Elisabeth is working on a secret mission.
The secret will be revealed on August 30, 2024.
Until then - have fun guessing!
Just like that...
Just like that, volunteers have been supporting the residents and staff at Haus Elisabeth in their everyday lives for many years.
To say "thank you", all volunteers were invited to Haus Elisabeth on the last Saturday in June.
While the residents were treated to barbecued food and salads in their residential groups, the guests enjoyed a barbecue buffet on the terrace.
At 2 p.m., they swayed and sang together in the house's meeting room.
The Cologne dialect band "Kwien - die Stääneflejer vum Rhing" played well-known and new songs - the atmosphere was great!
Once again, we would like to thank all the active supporters and look forward to spending more time together!
"Living in old age"
... this is the title of a project work by students of the Faculty of Geography at the Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität Bonn.
What is it about? About moving into a retirement home and the role that room furnishings can play in the new living arrangements.
The five students are investigating the question of how important material possessions are for elderly and old people when settling into their new home.
In a large discussion group, the juniors and seniors exchanged views on this topic in general. They reminisced about the various moves they had made in their lives so far.
In one-to-one conversations, also in the residents' rooms, the focus was then on specific pieces of furniture and decorations, the history behind them and an assessment of the current living situation.
The participants spent a wonderful and lively time with each other - and got to thinking...
You too, dear readers?
Classical music in the afternoon
On Saturday afternoon, the residents of Haus Elisabeth once again enjoyed an entertaining classical music concert. As in April, the Yukawa family (violin and piano) performed. They performed pieces by the violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler. The lively melodies put the audience in a summer mood; feet and heads bobbed in time to the music.
To be continued!
Alpacas...
...are originally from Peru, lose four to five kilos of wool during the annual shearing, are gourmets with a mind of their own and are the most adorable visitors imaginable!
Gismo and Giant from the Eifel put a smile on the faces of the residents of Haus Elisabeth when they visited on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. They patiently let the ladies and gentlemen feed and stroke them. The two are at home on the Hirschbach farm near Ahrbrück. Their owners, the Barth family, keep them there in a species-appropriate manner and prepare them for visits to retirement homes, among other things. Just watching the animals eating created a relaxed atmosphere. The light brown six-year-old alpaca stallion Giant has already produced offspring at Hirschbachhof. The breeders and owners are very happy with the result: gentle alpacas with very soft fur. Even residents with several handicaps were able to experience or feel this.
Conclusion of the visit: animals enrich our lives!
Concert afternoon at Haus Elisabeth
On Monday, 13 May 2024, the residents of Haus Elisabeth were treated to a very special musical experience: Ms Isabel Pachta and Ms Kewen Wang, both students at the Cologne University of Music and Dance, performed a classical concert in the fully occupied meeting room. Ms. Pachta on the violin and Ms. Wang on the piano delighted the audience with works by various composers from different eras.
The event was organized through a cooperation between the Venusberg Community Foundation and the "Live Music Now - Yehudin Menuhin" Foundation. With their commitment, both foundations enable senior citizens to take part in cultural events, among other things. As a result, the senior citizens were able to concentrate on the wonderfully selected and performed music without having to search for a parking space or queue at the checkroom, as is often the case at concerts. Which they did 100 percent - after 60 minutes, there was great applause, a glass of May punch to toast with the musicians and a heartfelt "thank you" to the organizers, Ms Heidrun Reuter and Prof. Peter Hornung.
"Work during the day, guests in the evening; sour weeks, happy festivals! Be your future magic word."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
With this quote, the current May King of Haus Elisabeth, Mr. Johann Schinzel, thanked his voters and opened the "Dance into May" on Tuesday, 30 April 2024. The election for May King had taken place the previous week as part of "Boys Day". Supported by two energetic participants of the campaign day, the residents were able to vote for one of the five candidates in the secret and written ballot.
After enjoying coffee and cake, the guests swayed, sang and, of course, danced to the music of the pop duo "Moonlights".
We wish His Highness a wonderful term of office!
Music is in the air....
On a Saturday afternoon in April - in keeping with the spring weather - a musical afternoon took place in the stairwell of Haus Elisabeth. The Yukawa family, with Akichika Yukawa (15 years old) on the violin and Mrs. Yukawa on the piano, gave the ladies and gentlemen a wonderful musical treat.
Akichika, who has been playing the violin since he was four years old, had already met the residents of the house on another occasion (see article "Analog meets digital") and spontaneously arranged a performance date. The high school student from Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Gymnasium Bonn is also a student at the Cologne University of Music and Dance.
At the end, a song was sung together with anticipation of further musical encounters with this likeable and very talented young violinist, who will certainly find his way in the world of music.
"Dear God, in this home, let all the people be happy. And give Your protection and blessing to all who live here!"
Construction work on the new replacement building for Haus Elisabeth began in mid-January 2024. Excavators, rollers and lorries are now rolling across the construction site, depending on which work step is on the schedule. As every house builder knows, an important intermediate step in the construction phases is the laying of the foundation stone. For the new building, this date took place on Thursday, April 18, 2024. A good choice, as it turned out to be the only dry day of the week.
At 11 a.m., invited guests from the city administration, politics and the construction industry as well as the district and residents gathered in the garden of Haus Elisabeth with a view of the construction site.
The operations manager, Mr. Marc Biedinger, opened the ceremony. This was followed by speeches from the Mayor Katja Dörner, the Chairman of the Senior Citizens' Centers' Operating Committee, Prof. Dr. Detmar Jobst, the Managing Director of Rotterdam Bau GmbH, Jörg Galka, and the lead architect from Soleo GmbH, Stephan Jenßen.
The new care facility will provide permanent accommodation for 90 senior citizens and 10 places for short stays. The building meets the latest requirements for climate-efficient construction and living, and the facilities are also designed with age- and illness-related handicaps in mind.
Following the speeches, the Mayor of Bonn sank a time capsule filled with current coins, a daily newspaper from April 18, 2024 and the blessing that the house community had chosen for this purpose. After the festive act, the guests exchanged ideas in a convivial atmosphere, fortified by snacks from the buffet.
What happens now? The house is growing, as is the anticipation of a new home and a new workplace. And the next celebration, the topping-out ceremony, is being planned.
Press release from the City of Bonn on the laying of the foundation stone
Analog meets digital
"If you download this app, you can save the following jpg files in a cloud via this browser. Everything clear?" "No, please do it again."
"We also used to use slates at school. When we got our first telephone with a rotary dial - that was a party!" "What kind of phone?"
Conversations with explanations about the digital and analog world took place on Thursday, February 15 between pupils from Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Gymnasium and residents of Haus Elisabeth.
In small discussion groups, the senior citizens learned about the everyday life of the 9th graders and they were amazed at the world and its realities that the senior citizens had experienced at their age
On Friday, we got down to practical work: playlists were created, baking recipes were written down in virtual cookbooks, home towns were found, and, and, and.....
How can you describe the two mornings that took place as part of the students' days of reflection?
The generations spent a valuable, meaningful and fulfilling time together, got to know each other's situations a little better and made new friends.
We stay in touch - whether analog or digital...
"It's all over on Ash Wednesday" - and there was so much going on at Haus Elisabeth!
It all started with the carnival celebration on Weiberfastnacht. Costumed and cheerful revellers met at 2:30 p.m. in the meeting place to get started with the dance group of KG Teddybären. There was singing, swaying and great applause for the dance performances. The KG Teddybären are celebrating their 22nd anniversary this year and have already confirmed their visit for their 23rd anniversary next year. Alaaf!
After a carnival speech and polonaise in the hall, the show continued with a visit from the Kindergodesia Isabel I.
Dressed in a wonderful costume and with her court, she greeted the party and made everyone "live high"!
The great days for the residents of Haus Elisabeth began as beautifully as they ended on Veilchendienstag with the visit of the Godesberg prince and princess, Florian I and Godesia Julia, accompanied by the GKG Bergfunken. Dancing, swaying, singing and good humor were also part of the program on this day.
We would like to thank everyone involved - and look forward to next year!
"Only jugs outside"
On Saturday, 20.1.2024, the actors of the theater group "Die Startisten" stood on the boards that mean the world - in Haus Elisabeth.
And they portrayed this world wonderfully on the stage of Haus Elisabeth's meeting place in short episodes.
Whether it was a misunderstanding between a waiter and a guest regarding the rules of the bar on the terrace, telephone banking between a clerk and a customer or at the bus stop between two passengers - every everyday situation was played out with clever dialog and lively acting.
As they toasted with a glass of sparkling wine after the successful performance, the actors and audience agreed: to be repeated!
The fifth season
No sooner have the Christmas trees, gold stars and nativity figures been stowed away in the cellar than carnival is just around the corner.
This year, the Bonn Stadtsoldaten opened this year's carnival festivities at Haus Elisabeth with a colorful and cheerful program. The children's dance group of the Stadtsoldatencorps and the Rhenish dialect band "Kwiens" got the senior citizens swaying and singing along.A wonderful event came to an end in the early evening, continuing the long tradition of the Bonn City Soldiers and the association Senioren- und Jugendhilfe e.V.: to enable the residents of Haus Elisabeth to participate in the social life of the city and thus bring a lot of joy.
Bonn City Soldiers - Alaaf!
Haus Elisabeth - Alaaf!
And to you all - Alaaf!
Archive vintage 2023
Two alpacas delighted the senior citizens of the Wilhelmine-Lübke-Haus
Alpacas are the somewhat smaller relatives of llamas. They are native to the Andes in South America. It is thanks to Anja and Marko, two ambitious breeders from the Eifel region who are passionate about enabling other people to come into contact with these special animals, that two male alpacas have now found their way into our Wilhelmine-Lübke-Haus.
In beautiful weather with lots of sunshine, they stayed on the terrace of our house in the company of our senior citizens. They were allowed to be fed and stroked, which our residents accepted with great pleasure. Anyone who has ever looked an alpaca in the eye knows what a calming and loving aura these animals have. They also put a smile on the faces of the senior citizens. Stroking the fluffy fur was also very good for both the animals and our residents.
With such a good response, we have of course arranged for the next meeting. And so we look forward to seeing the alpacas again next year!
"The murderer is always the gardener!" - Think again!
At the crime story reading by Bonn author Alexa Thiesmeyer at the beginning of November, the residents of Haus Elisabeth delved into the abysses of the human soul - all wrapped up in a good dose of humor.
Mrs. Thiesmeyer and her husband, Mr. Reinhard Thiesmeyer, read a short story and an excerpt from the novel "Bonner Verrat", which was published in 2019. As both are also familiar with theater, their presentation was extremely lively and never boring.
It was a wonderfully entertaining afternoon that whetted the appetite for reading in the cold season.
Now it's here - fall!
A good reason to celebrate once again.
The "Harvest Festival" at Haus Elisabeth began with musical accompaniment from the "Moonlights". The potato was especially honored.
Strengthened by delicious potato pancakes at lunch, everyone sang together, talked about this and that about the potato and tested their knowledge in a quiz.
The winners were delighted .... marzipan potatoes.
Many thanks to everyone involved - especially to the "Moonlights" with their inexhaustible repertoire for the good mood!
"Trari trara, the post is here!"
Once again this year, DHL/Deutsche Post employees came to volunteer at Haus Elisabeth in September. As part of the "Global Volunteer Day", they repainted the park benches, cleared the terraces and garden paths of weeds and planted new fall plants in the beds.
The weather was great - the mood was great!
And it's already clear: we'll see you again next year.
Many thanks to the "volunteers"!
"Activation Café" of the Venusberg Resurrection Parish in Elisabeth House
At the beginning of September, the "Activation Café" of the Venusberg Resurrection Parish opened its doors at Haus Elisabeth.
The theme of the afternoon was music and its effect on body and mind. This thesis was put to the test in a convivial atmosphere. The ladies and gentlemen from the community and the retirement home sang well-known and new songs together with piano accompaniment. This was accompanied by theoretical information compiled and presented by members of the community.
Conclusion of the afternoon:
Everything goes better with music, because where people sing, let them settle...!
"Good luck and many blessings, ..."
... that's what the residents and staff of Haus Elisabeth wished Father E. Jäckel on his 90th birthday on September 10, 2023. After the Catholic mass at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of the house, the congregation sang a birthday serenade to the jubilarian with the support of Peter Leyendecker on the organ. Mrs. Rosemarie Müller presented the bouquet of flowers on behalf of the house community and user advisory board. Afterwards, a toast was raised with sparkling wine and juice in the foyer of the meeting place. Father Jäckel, who, as he says, can look back on a long and eventful life, expressed his heartfelt thanks.
We hope to welcome him to mass at Haus Elisabeth many more Sundays and would like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best for the new year!
It smells of ..... lavender!
It smelled ... of lavender! After just a few minutes, the participants in the handicraft session at Haus Elisabeth had "sniffed out" the topic of the lesson: Making lavender sachets.
The flowers were shaken and plucked from the large, tied and dried bunches, filled into tea bags and finally packed into the colorful bags they had sewn themselves. String around it, done!
The ladies exchanged tips on how to use and store the tea in a relaxed atmosphere.
Whether for refreshing clothes in the wardrobe, as a "soothing agent" under the pillow or simply for decoration - the long life stories brought to light many treasures of experience on this topic.
A continuation of the handicraft round is already planned for October.
A journey through time at Haus Elisabeth
At the end of August, the "Holly Hoppers" took the ladies and gentlemen of Haus Elisabeth on a journey through time.
They went back to the 50s and 60s. And what was going on there! Clothes, music, advertising, vacations, work, politics at home and abroad, and, and, and ...
The two of them reported on all these key words - dancing, telling stories, in small scenes. And all with great verve and vigor. Personal memories and experiences emerged before the audience's inner eye.
It was a wonderful afternoon that is sure to be repeated.
"Go forth, my heart, and seek joy"
That was the headline for the organ concert at Haus Elisabeth on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
Mr. Stephan Pridik, cantor of the Protestant parish of the Resurrection in Venusberg, had put together a colourful program for the organ under this motto. To the sounds of Brixi, Beethoven, Gunsenheimer and several other composers from different eras, the audience was able to let their thoughts wander through the summer. Mr. Pridik used the full range of the Stahlhut organ in all its facets; singing along was also possible. Both residents of Haus Elisabeth and music-loving members of the congregation attended. After the encores, everyone agreed that Mr. Pridik had given us a wonderful afternoon that will certainly be repeated!
Excursion to the Waldau
On July 26, eight residents of the Wilhelmine-Lübke-Haus went on an excursion to Waldau together with members of the social services team. Although we had been very spoiled in terms of summer temperatures and sunshine in the past, the weather was not kind to us on July 26th and it was a rainy day.
However, true to the motto: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing", everyone boarded the minibuses hired for the day in a cheerful mood and headed for the Gasthaus an der Waldau. Once there, we were greeted by the friendly staff and seated in the café's conservatory. We were surprised with a varied selection of freshly baked cakes. From almond and cherry cake to cheese and cream cakes, everything was represented. And everyone was unanimous in their praise for the size of the cakes. In this cozy atmosphere, people enjoyed watching the rain fall, enjoyed the beautiful natural surroundings despite the weather and were happy to be able to sit inside and chat over a delicious cup of coffee and cake. At the end of the afternoon, everyone agreed that we would love to come back to the Gasthaus an der Waldau. But then please with an extra portion of sunshine.
What belongs to summer?
The sun? It shone on August 1, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.!
Good-humored people? They gathered on the terraces in front of Haus Elisabeth!
Ice cream? Of course!
So on Tuesday afternoon, the Granatella ice cream van came to Haus Elisabeth and opened its ice cream chest for the residents.
Traditional flavors and new creations could be found on the list of flavors and were mixed and matched according to taste.
The result of the campaign: happy and satisfied faces on all those involved. We can recommend this with a clear conscience!
Before the summer vacation...
... the children and young people from the Venusberg Evangelical Church of the Resurrection and the Venusberg Forest School surprised the residents of Haus Elisabeth with a circus performance one afternoon and made mosaic gemstones with them for the garden decoration on another afternoon.
Now school is starting again - and everyone involved is already "in the starting blocks" for new joint activities!
On your marks, get set, ....
A rickshaw ride that is fun
Our rickshaw is still very popular even after several years. One or two passengers per tour are quickly found and off you go. Across Pützchen and up into the adjacent forest. If visibility is good, the view of Cologne Cathedral is included. The rickshaw also offers the opportunity to visit destinations beyond the immediate vicinity. For example, it is possible to pay a short visit to an old home or relatives in the area. The senior citizens are not the only ones who enjoy driving. Many other road users greet us with a smile and a wave, give us the right of way and are particularly considerate. Back safely at St. Albertus-Magnus-Haus, not only the senior citizens, but also the staff are happy about the wonderful time together.
"Cooking is an art and a noble one at that"
"Cooking is an art and a noble one at that", as Henriette Davidis once said. The St. Albertus Magnus House devotes itself to this art once a month. Vegetables and fruit are painstakingly cleaned and cut, dough kneaded and seasoned. There are often lively discussions about home cooking traditions. The table for the meal is also set together.
There's always a lot to do when cooking, but it's worth it and the results are impressive. After the main course, a homemade dessert is eaten together. It is clear that the food seems to taste good, as many conversations fall silent while eating.
It can also get louder when singing!
When we sing and make music together, it resounds across the entire corridor. From time to time, people poke their heads through the door to listen to us or join in. The old traditional folk songs are particularly popular. The memories of childhood and youth move many residents. But modern pop songs are also a must. The carnival, Cologne songs are particularly important in a Rhineland home. There is singing, swaying and laughter. At the end of the offer, there is always amazement at how entertaining the hour was in a cozy group. Because "where people sing, settle down, bad people have no songs".
Back to school....
... was the theme for the residents of the senior citizens' centers of the City of Bonn this spring. At the invitation of the Heinrich-Hertz-Europakolleg of the federal city of Bonn, the ladies and gentlemen visited students from this vocational school in their lessons.
The lively discussions covered many topics. Vocational training in the past and today were compared. The pupils heard about contemporary history at first hand and the senior citizens gained an impression of the young people's world.
After two teaching units, the generations parted with a lot of new information and impressions "in their satchels".
What do you call a blue duck?
The Barbara pharmacy, part of the Vietors pharmacy group, posed this question to young and old in April.
And so, on a Friday afternoon, young (from the Venusberg Evangelical Church of the Resurrection) and old (from Elisabeth House) met to paint and name blue ducks in individual and group work.
You can see the result here.
The "winning duck" has not yet been chosen - keep your fingers crossed for the artists!
"Spring lets out its blue ribbon..."
These lines of poetry (written by whom? That's right: Eduard Mörike!) come to mind for the residents of Haus Elisabeth when they walk past the raised beds on the terraces of the house on their first spring walks: Forget-me-nots, grape hyacinths and other spring flowers have been planted in the raised beds thanks to a generous donation from the Venusberg Bürgerstiftung e.V. community foundation.
"Spring, yes it's you! I have heard you!"
Freddy Quinn and Ludwig van Beethoven as guests at Haus Elisabeth
Two big names - two great artists. And two entertaining and informative afternoons at Haus Elisabeth.
In January, the residents of Haus Elisabeth listened to two biographical lectures. In a convivial atmosphere, they learned about the life and work of the gentlemen, who are known far beyond the borders of the country. Did you know that Freddy Quinn also enjoyed success in America and that Ludwig van Beethoven was always unlucky in love? We know now.
And two wonderful winter afternoons ended with the corresponding "catchy tunes".
Archive vintage 2022
The cuckoo and the donkey
Did you recognize them? That's right, a cuckoo and a donkey!
The two were created as part of a joint project between the Venusberg Protestant Church of the Resurrection and Elisabeth House. Last fall, "old" (from Haus Elisabeth) and "young" (from the congregation) got together and formed these two sculptures under expert guidance. The first presentation took place in September 2022 in the garden of Haus Elisabeth. The children and senior citizens performed the song "The Cuckoo and the Donkey" and accompanied the musical performance of the three verses with the animals. The audience responded that it was a complete success!
And now the two of them are wandering through the community. Keep your eyes peeled!
The "Icho ball"
"Do you know it? The Icho ball." - "The ... what?" - "The Icho ball!"
This is how the conversations start when we visit the ladies and gentlemen in Haus Elisabeth in their rooms and/or lounges with the little blinking and talking ball. Slightly larger than a grapefruit, this digital "almost-everything-know-it-all" is easy to hold, robust and immediately invites you to "do". Thanks to its simple operation, it passes the residents' time with a variety of possibilities: guessing, singing, moving, calculating, marveling, looking, reacting... And it is easy to move from room to room, from corridor to corridor.
The level of difficulty of the tasks can be chosen individually, so that you can practise skills and abilities accordingly - or simply have fun with games and variety. This applies to use with one person, but also for small and large groups.
Our Icho-Ball is a great addition to other everyday activities!
And if it's not "digital" - we still have a ball...
Archive vintage 2021
Large-scale projections thanks to "Qwiek.up"
In April 2021 - thanks to donations - the so-called "Qwiek.up" was purchased for the Wilhelmine-Lübke-Haus and the Albertus-Magnus-Haus and has been in daily use ever since.
The "Qwiek.up" makes it possible to project large-scale projections onto the wall or ceiling, which can be accompanied by music and sounds. This makes it possible to provide our residents with a special viewing and listening experience. As this device is so easy to transport and operate, it can be used flexibly in any room and is very popular with our residents.
The "Qwiek.up" can be equipped with various modules. For example, it is possible to project a forest walk with nature sounds onto the ceiling for a bedridden resident or to play a concert by André Rieu in the dining room. The "Qwiek.up" can also be used by relatives. They can create a personal experience module with old photos or videos for our residents, which they can then enjoy. It is also possible to make video calls via the device so that relatives can be seen and heard in large format on the room wall.
Due to its versatile possibilities and the great positive response from our residents, the "Qwiek.up" is in use every day and gives everyone a lot of pleasure.
Care Table
Since April 2021, the St. Albertus Magnus House has been offering a new service: the Care Table! The Care Table is a large table that looks like a giant tablet. The whole thing works via a touch screen, i.e. a glass surface is operated by touching it with your hands.
It offers a wide range of games, exercises and video clips that can be viewed. For example, you can play bingo or Mensch ärgere Dich nicht, answer quiz questions, read the newspaper, color pictures, read the news or watch church services. The Care Table can be used by up to four people at the same time. Due to social distancing rules, there are currently only one or two people at a time.
The staff use the table together with individuals from the residents. However, the people living here also use it on their own or arrange to meet up with each other.
The Wilhelmine-Lübke-Haus has also been using a table like this for some time. It is well used in both facilities and gives a lot of pleasure.
Thanks for donations
Thanks to generous donations from Bonn residents, the senior centers have been able to purchase various new materials and equipment to keep residents active and entertained. For example, digital games tables and wellness chairs are now being used to help residents pass the time and relax.
A big and heartfelt "thank you" once again to all donors!